Former Nonprofit Finance Director Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Funds

COLUMBIA, S.C. —Ashley Clark Ingram, 34, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds for misappropriating funds from Habitat for Humanity of Central South Carolina.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that while employed as the director of finance and operations for Habitat for Humanity, Ingram applied for an employee retention tax credit for retaining employees during the COVID-19 pandemic from the IRS on behalf of Habitat for Humanity, but without the knowledge of the nonprofit. Ingram then received checks totaling $388,550.75 from the United States Treasury and deposited the funds into a Habitat for Humanity account that she controlled. Ingram transferred the money from the Habitat for Humanity account into multiple personal bank accounts and appropriated it to her own use. In total, Ingram misappropriated approximately $514,672.37 from Habitat for Humanity and the United States Government. 

Ingram faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. She also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and a total of three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Ingram at a future date after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.

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