Dallas Non-Profit Exec Evetta Galloway Griffin Admits to $115K Embezzlement

Dallas — A former executive at a federally funded non-profit that provides Head Start services to low-income families has admitted to stealing $115,000 through a rigged invoicing scam. Evetta Galloway Griffin, 49, of Grand Prairie, stood before U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle this morning and pleaded guilty to theft or bribery concerning programs receiving Federal funds.

Griffin, also known as Evette Griffin, served as Director of Facilities and Administration for the Child Care Group (CCG) until her departure in late March 2015. The CCG, a non-profit corporation, receives federal grants to operate early childhood education programs, including Head Start and Early Head Start, serving children from birth to age five across Dallas.

According to court documents, Griffin orchestrated a years-long fraud scheme by submitting approximately 100 fake invoices to CCG for printing services she never provided. The invoices were issued under the names A-1 Express Co or A-1 Express Inc., businesses tied to Griffin. Between April 25, 2011, and January 30, 2015, CCG paid out nearly $115,000 in response to these falsified billing requests.

Griffin typically converted the checks—made out to A-1 Express Co or A-1 Express Inc.—into cash, bypassing any legitimate business transaction. The scheme unraveled after a federal review exposed the lack of service records, contracts, or proof of delivery. Investigators found no evidence that A-1 Express operated as a legitimate vendor for CCG during the period in question.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) led the investigation. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham is prosecuting the case. Griffin now faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. She has agreed to pay restitution to the victims of her crime.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 16, 2017. The case exposes vulnerabilities in federal grant oversight, particularly within non-profits entrusted to serve some of the region’s most vulnerable children. For now, Griffin’s betrayal of that trust will be weighed by the court.