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NCDOC Officer Pleads Guilty in COVID-19 Fraud Scheme
Raleigh, N.C. – In a shocking turn of events, Sean Tracy Dillard, a 55-year-old correctional officer with the North Carolina Department of Corrections (NCDOC), has pleaded guilty to theft of government funds. The crime, which was committed as part of a COVID-19 fraud scheme, has left many in the community reeling.
According to court documents, Dillard submitted fictitious tenant lease agreements for multiple properties in Hertford County as part of his NC HOPE loan applications. The NC HOPE program, which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to renters during the COVID-19 pandemic, utilized an initial $51.5 million allocation of CDBG funds from the CARES Act.
The CARES Act, which was enacted on March 27, 2020, provided emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Act authorized $5 billion in Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) programs as flexible federal funding to states and localities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
Dillard’s crime is a serious one, and he faces up to 10 years in prison for his actions. The FBI is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Ontjes is prosecuting the case.
The NC HOPE program was designed to assist North Carolina renters stay in their homes during COVID-19 by preventing evictions and the loss of utility services. The State of North Carolina’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency (“NCORR”), a division of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, utilized federal funds made available in the CARES Act to administer the program.
Dillard’s sentencing will occur before United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan later this year. Until then, he will remain free on bond. The case is a stark reminder of the importance of oversight and accountability in government programs, and the devastating consequences of theft and fraud.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER.
In related news, the State of North Carolina also received CRF funds from the CARES Act, of which $66 million was allocated to pay administrative costs associated with the NC HOPE program.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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