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Press Release

Two Women Plead Guilty to Defrauding USDA’s Summer Food Service Program

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia

NORFOLK, Va. – Cindy Hall, 41, of Monroe, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today to charges of mail fraud and unlawful monetary transactions.  Hall’s mother, Stephanie Almond, 61, of Franklin, pleaded guilty on Jan. 27, 2016, to charges of mail fraud.

According to statements of facts filed with the plea agreements, Cindy Hall ran a non-profit organization known as Send Thee Community Outreach, allegedly to administer the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which is a USDA federally-funded program to feed children during the summer when free-lunch programs end at the conclusion of the school year.  The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) administers the SFSP in Virginia.  In 2012 and 2013, Hall submitted fraudulent claims to VDH for reimbursement, resulting in at least $150,000 in overpayment to Hall.  Almond previously ran her own non-profit organization, Neighborhood Pride, which was a SFSP sponsor approximately 2008 to 2011, when she was disqualified by VDH.  Almond continued to be involved with the program with Hall, until Hall was told she was disqualified by VDH from receiving funds in 2014.

Hall and Almond were indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 8, 2015.  Hall and Almond face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on May 4, 2016. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Superintendent of Virginia State Police; June W. Jennings, Inspector General of Virginia; and Phyllis K. Fong, Inspector General for U.S. Department of Agriculture, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Krask.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:15cr132.

Updated February 4, 2016