Still I Rise Incorporated
Outcome
Glenda Hodges, 72, CEO of Still I Rise Incorporated, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for misappropriating more than $2 million in DOJ Office of Violence Against Women and Prince George's County grants intended to serve minority survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking — and separately opening fraudulent credit accounts using an elderly volunteer's identity.
Details
Still I Rise Incorporated (Maryland) — CEO VAWA Grant Fraud (2010–2017)
Outcome: Glenda Hodges, 72, CEO of Still I Rise Incorporated, was sentenced on October 26, 2021 to two years in federal prison and ordered to pay $295,060.48 in restitution, plus forfeit $268,573.41, for misappropriating more than $2 million in DOJ Violence Against Women Act grants and Prince George's County grants intended to serve minority survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Between 2010 and 2017, Hodges was awarded more than $2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) and Prince George's County to implement a violence against women program through Still I Rise. Rather than using those funds for the designated survivor services, Hodges converted the grant money to her personal benefit and to pay payroll and expenses for her for-profit entity.
In a separate scheme, between March and August 2016, Hodges fraudulently opened credit accounts at two financial institutions using the identifying information of an elderly volunteer — without permission. When the volunteer was brought to the bank in physical distress, Hodges used the victim's personal information to acquire a credit card that was subsequently maxed out on personal expenses: homeowners' insurance, internet service, Medicare services, and car repairs.
U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Hodges to two years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release, with full restitution ordered.
How Crucible Prevents This
Hodges converted DOJ Office of Violence Against Women grants — funds specifically designated for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors — to pay personal expenses and fund an unrelated for-profit business. Crucible's grant fund tracking hook creates a complete chain of custody for every dollar of restricted grant funding from receipt through documented service delivery, blocking any transfer to non-program purposes. A restricted-fund firewall control enforces that OVW grant funds can only be disbursed to documented service providers with verified service delivery, not to the grantee organization's operating expenses or personal accounts.
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