Former Executive with Non-Profit that Provides Head Start Services in Dallas Admits to Embezzlement Scheme

DALLAS — Evetta Galloway Griffin, 49, of Grand Prairie appeared this morning before U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle and pleaded guilty to theft or bribery concerning programs receiving Federal funds.  U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas made today’s announcement.

Griffin faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. According to the plea agreement, Griffin agrees to restitution arising from her conduct to victims or the community. Sentencing is set for March 16, 2017.

According to documents filed in the case, Griffin, a/k/a Evette Griffin, was the Director of Facilities and Administration for the Child Care Group (CCG) until late March 2015.  The CCG is a non-profit corporation that receives federal grant funding to provide, among other things, Head Start services to promote the school readiness of young children from low-income families in the Dallas area.  Together, Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the comprehensive development of children from birth to age five, in centers, child care partner locations and in their own homes. 

Griffin had many duties at CCG that were related to the operation of their child care centers, as well as other responsibilities related to the administration of the corporate office and the procurement process related to federal grants. 

As part of the scheme, Griffin created and executed an embezzlement, theft and fraud scheme in which she fraudulently billed CCG for fictitious printing services allegedly provided by A-1 Express Co or A-1 Express Inc.  In fact, between April 25, 2011 and January 30, 2015, Griffin submitted approximately 100 fraudulent invoices to CCG that they paid.  Griffin usually converted the checks that were made payable to A-1 Express Co or A-1 Express Inc. to cash, ultimately receiving approximately $115,000 from her embezzlement scheme.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG).  First Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham is in charge of the prosecution.

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