Case Manager and Property Agent Plead Guilty to Stealing Federal Funds Designated to Help Homeless Veterans

A former case manager at a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating veteran homelessness and a property agent have pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal approximately $124,000 in federal funds intended to help homeless veterans. Between approximately October 2013 and November 2015, Camelia Revels was employed at HOPE Atlanta where she was responsible for confirming a veteran’s eligibility to participate in the program, assisting veterans in finding suitable housing, and preparing the vouchers to secure issuance of funds to vendors. Among the vendors Revels provided to her supervisor for approval were companies that were owned and operated by Katrise Jones. Jones was supposed to act as a property agent and assist the veterans with finding suitable housing. In December 2014, HOPE Atlanta learned that Jones was not making rental payments on behalf of veterans and directed Revels to no longer work with her. Revels ignored this directive and continued her scheme with Jones, which included the opening of a joint bank account where stolen funds were deposited. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2021. “The VA OIG’s continued oversight of VA’s grant programs, which are used to provide housing for at-risk homeless veterans, is one of the agency’s highest priorities because it safeguards the integrity of VA’s programs designed to end veteran homelessness. As detailed in the charging document, the defendants’ fraud scheme adversely impacted the well-being of homeless veterans, their families, and the programs designed to assist them during a time of need,” said David Spilker, special agent in charge at the VA OIG.