Ex-Pierce County public housing finance director pleads guilty in $6.9 million fraud

George T. Taft

Cova Campbell, the former finance director, pleaded responsible to using just about $7 million from the public agency in three decades.

Editor’s take note: the higher than video ran in 2019.

A previous Pierce County Housing Authority finance director pleaded responsible on Friday to wire fraud in connection with her scheme to steal almost $7 million to purchase particular property, the U.S. Attorney’s Place of work announced.

Cova Campbell, also recognized as Cova Hunter, was fired from her place as finance director at the Pierce County Housing Authority in 2019 after the point out auditor uncovered monetary irregularities.

She had been in cost of the public agency’s $32 million yearly spending budget, with minor oversight. Campbell was arrested past calendar year in Oklahoma.

The auditor’s business documented that Campbell and her husband had stolen $6.9 million given that 2016 and utilised the cash to purchase house in Oklahoma, between other issues.

The Pierce County Housing Authority is a public governing administration agency that provides housing chances for individuals with reduce incomes. Campbell was in charge of the housing authority’s price range, which will come from federal, local and condition packages, as well as from rent on its houses.

The auditor claimed that the fraud involved $25,000 in personal buys on the Housing Authority’s credit score playing cards, $3.2 million in transactions disguised as vendor payments, $635,000 in wire transfers to an out of condition financial institution and additional than $3 million in wire transfers instantly to Campbell’s personal account.

The wire transfers had been as large as $500,000, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Business office.

In accordance to the U.S. Attorney’s Office environment, Campbell also falsified invoices, labeling them as investments, insurance or upkeep.

Campbell pleaded responsible to using the income to key her property in Oklahoma, for enhancements to her Lakewood house and for journey, including journeys to Las Vegas and the chartering of a private jet, according to the announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Business office. She also admitted to working with the income for the invest in of two cars and trucks and for gambling and web gaming.

Campbell faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Decide Robert J. Bryan on April 8, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office environment. She also will have to fork out restitution of $7 million.

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