Panama City Woman Sentenced for Theft of Government Funds

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA– Selena Noblit, 43, of Panama City, Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle to a one-year term of probation, 192 hours of community service, and a $100 special monetary assesment for the theft of over $11,000 in government funds belonging to the Apalachicola Housing Authority.

The defendant pleaded guilty June 4, 2013, to a charge of theft of government funds.  Noblit was charged after an investigation and audits conducted by the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Apalachicola Housing Authority (AHA), which revealed that from June 2011 through May 2012, she had improperly used a government credit card for personal purchases of more than $11,000.  The purchases included charges for clothing, auto repairs, personal travel, and food, none of which were authorized or for business expense.  The credit card bill, including the defendant’s personal purchases, was then paid from HUD federal funds allocated to the AHA.   

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Mountin.