The man also agreed to pay restitution of about $431,000
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A former executive at an Ohio housing authority has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $431,000 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio announced.
Gregory Darr was the executive director and CFO of the Coshocton Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) and also the executive director of the CMHA Resident Council when he repeatedly embezzled money for his own personal gain and for the gain of co-defendant Eric Blackwell.
Federal regulations prohibited Darr from serving in the resident council leadership capacity or from benefitting financially from the council.
The CMHA received federal HUD money each year to provide housing to low-income households. Beginning in January 2012 and continuing through September 2017, Darr repeatedly embezzled money from both the CMHA and the resident council operating accounts.
In addition, Darr routinely traveled to Georgia to manage his investment properties despite being on the clock with CMHA. He and Blackwell also improperly used CMHA office space and supplies to operate their joint business ventures.
When he learned of a federal investigation into his activities in August 2017, Darr took steps to obstruct and impede the investigation.
Darr pleaded guilty to conspiring to embezzle money from the US, which is punishable by up to five years in prison. As part of his plea, Darr agreed to pay $431,668.45 in restitution to HUD. Blackwell previously agreed to plead guilty to similar charges.
