Criminal Information Filed Against Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services Employee Cindy E. Brady

Charged with Embezzlement of “Giving Tree” Funds in Three Federal Criminal Counts

May 19, 2010 - CHARLOTTE, NC—Today the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina filed a criminal bill of information in U.S. District Court in Charlotte against Cindy E. Brady, 50, of Charlotte, charging that she embezzled County property for her own use in 2007, 2008, and 2009, while she was an employee of the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services (DSS). This prosecution is part of a coordinated law enforcement effort with the Charlotte Division of FBI, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. U.S. Attorney Anne M. Tompkins is joined in making today’s announcement by Owen D. Harris, Special Agent in Charge of FBI operations in North Carolina, and Chief Rodney Monroe of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

According to the criminal information filed today, Cindy E. Brady, a former employee of the Mecklenburg County DSS, is charged in three separate criminal counts with embezzlement of Mecklenburg County government funds which were managed by the DSS. According to the charges, during each of the 2007, 2008, and 2009 calendar years, Mecklenburg County received benefits under various federal programs involving grants, contracts, subsidies, loans, guarantees, and other financial assistance. From about 2007 through 2009, Cindy Brady, according to the criminal information, embezzled and converted to her own use Mecklenburg County funds managed by DSS. The criminal information charges that Brady received advances of funds from the DSS to be used for purchasing gifts for low-income individuals pursuant to a program known as “Giving Tree.” Further, according to the information, Brady allegedly converted the “Giving Tree” funds to her own personal use, including the repayment of approximately $30,000 in personal credit card debt. It is alleged that in order to conceal the conversion of the “Giving Tree” funds, Brady altered or created dozens of fictitious receipts which she then submitted to DSS.

The information includes a notice of forfeiture and finding of probable cause which gives notice that the defendant must forfeit to the United States all of the property involved in the offenses charged in the information, and all property traceable to such offenses. In the notice of forfeiture the government alleges probable cause to believe that up to approximately $112,222 is subject to forfeiture on one or more of the grounds stated in the charges contained in the bill of information.

Brady faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine as to each of the three federal criminal counts. Any sentence received upon conviction will be influenced by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which the Court consults in order to determine each defendant’s actual sentence. Sentences are based upon a formula that takes into account the severity and characteristics of the offense and a defendant’s criminal history, if any. A plea agreement was also filed today along with the bill of information.

The case is being handled for the government by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Martens of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.

Note: A criminal information is merely an allegation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.