Charity Worker Embezzled $83,000 from USA

(CN) - A Goodwill employee admitted he embezzled $83,000 from a housing program that receives federal funding, federal prosecutors said.

Francis Louis Carrillo, 48, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty Friday to theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. He is free on bond pending sentencing.

Carrillo worked as Deputy Director of Community Programs at Goodwill Industries of New Mexico. He was indicted in May on six counts of theft of government property.

Prosecutors say Carrillo stole money from 2008 to 2010 by issuing phony checks from two programs.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds the Supportive Housing Program, and the Department of Labor funds the Senior Community Service Employment Program, which provides vocational treating. Both are administrated at the local level by community organizers and nonprofit organizations, including Goodwill. From 2008 to 2010, Goodwill received more than $80,000 per year from both programs.

"Upon issuance of the checks, Carrillo would have the payees either cash the checks and provide him with the funds, or endorse the checks so that Carrillo could cash them himself," federal prosecutors in Albuquerque said in a statement.

"Carrillo further admitted that, between 2006 and 2010, he caused approximately 130 checks to be issued by Goodwill under false pretenses and fraudulently converted the proceeds of those checks to his own use. During the course of his illegal scheme, Carrillo embezzled approximately $83,320.75 from Goodwill."

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