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Department of Justice Acting United States Attorney Candace G. Hill Contact: Dawn Masden |
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August 6, 2009
LOUISVILLE MEN INDICTED FOR CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES
– CEO and Bookkeeper for local non-profit indicted for diverting federal grant funds
LOUISVILLE, KY - A federal grand jury in Louisville returned a eleven count indictment on August 4, 2009, against Henry M. Humphrey and Kevin Harris, both of Louisville, Kentucky, on charges of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States, Wire Fraud, and Submitting a False Writing to the United States. Humphrey is charged with one additional count of soliciting and receiving a kickback.
The eleven count indictment charges that between February 25, 1998, and November 2005, the defendants, Humphrey and Harris, conspired, confederated, and agreed with each other and others, known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to improperly divert federal grant funds, to make and receive illegal kickbacks from federal grant funds, and to submit a report containing false documents to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. In addition, the Grand Jury charged Henry M. Humphrey with soliciting and receiving $5,000 cash as a kickback from another to whom Humphrey had approved the payment of federal grant money. Humphrey and Harris are each also charged with seven counts of wire fraud.
Kenneth M. Donohue, Inspector General for the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General stated, “HUD's Office of Inspector General is committed to ensuring taxpayers' dollars are put to good use and HUD programs are free from waste, fraud and abuse. This joint prosecutorial effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, HUD’s Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigations has helped send a strong message that those who seek to unlawfully profit by defrauding programs within HUD will be vigorously prosecuted.”
In the event of a conviction, the maximum potential penalties for Humphrey are 160 years’ imprisonment, a $2,500,000 fine, and supervised release for a period of no more than 3 years. Harris, in the event of conviction, faces maximum potential penalties of 150 years’ imprisonment, a $2,250,000 fine, and a supervised release period of no more than 3 years.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Judd and James Lesousky, and it was investigated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation
only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless
proven guilty.
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