Former veterans shelter executive sentenced to 42 months for grant fraud

HOUSTON – A 59-year-old Brenham resident has been ordered to federal prison for misappropriating thousands in federal grant funding, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Clifford Wayne Robertson pleaded guilty Sept. 5.

Senior U.S. District Judge David Hittner has now ordered Robertson to serve 42 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court cited Robertson’s criminal history, including prior convictions for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. 

Robertson served as the former executive director and CEO of a nonprofit organization that operated a homeless shelter for veterans. In that role, he misappropriated federal grant funds awarded to Castle Cares Community Ministry Inc., doing business as The Warrior’s Refuge.

Between February and April 2020, Robertson submitted multiple applications for federal assistance to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor on behalf of The Warrior’s Refuge. As a result, the organization received approximately $1.3 million from the VA and $500,000 from the DOL.

As part of his plea, Robertson admitted he knowingly embezzled grant funds for unallowable personal expenses. He also acknowledged using funds for counseling services he never provided to veterans, resulting in a loss of $180,216.96.

Robertson was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. 

The VA-Office of the Inspector General, DOL-OIG and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh prosecuted the case.