Zezzo House

Hartford, CT 2015--2016 Social Services / Nonprofits

DOJ HUD_OIG Theft_of_government_funds Embezzlement Federal_program_fraud

Penalty

$33,000

Outcome

Steven F. Harvin, 53, President of Zezzo House — a Hartford nonprofit providing housing for individuals with HIV/AIDS and other health challenges — was sentenced to 60 days of home confinement and probation for stealing approximately $33,000 in HUD HOPWA grant funds and diverted Section 8 rent payments through cash withdrawals and ineligible expenses.

Details

Zezzo House (Hartford, Connecticut) — President HUD HOPWA Grant Fraud (2015–2016)

Outcome: Steven F. Harvin, 53, of New Haven, President of Zezzo House — a Hartford, Connecticut nonprofit providing housing for individuals and families with HIV/AIDS and other health challenges — was sentenced to 60 days of home confinement (as a condition of probation) and 50 hours of community service for stealing approximately $33,000 from HUD programs the nonprofit received.

Zezzo House received HUD Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) funding to provide housing services, and also received Section 8 rental assistance payments for tenants. Between approximately August 2015 and September 2016, Harvin served as President of Zezzo House and misappropriated approximately $25,120.47 in HOPWA funds through cash withdrawals, ineligible expense payments, and failure to account for the use of other grant funds. He also diverted Section 8 rent checks from tenants to his personal use, bringing total losses to approximately $32,854.

Harvin was arrested in June 2018 and pleaded guilty to one count of theft from programs receiving federal funds. He was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Alfred Covello and also ordered to pay full restitution. The case was investigated by HUD's Office of Inspector General and the Hartford Police Department.

Primary Source: Former President of Hartford Nonprofit Who Stole from HUD Program is Sentenced

How Crucible Prevents This

Harvin diverted HUD HOPWA funds meant for HIV/AIDS housing services through cash withdrawals and ineligible expenses — vulnerable population funds misappropriated by the organization's president. Crucible's HOPWA fund tracking hook creates a complete ledger of all HOPWA grant funds from receipt through documented housing service, flagging cash withdrawals as prohibited. A Section 8 rent payment segregation control ensures rent checks from tenants are deposited only to the designated operating account — not personally accessible by the executive director.

Source: Former President of Hartford Nonprofit Who Stole from HUD Program is Sentenced

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