WHEELING, WV—Richelle D. Blair, 37, of Glen Dale, West Virginia, was sentenced today for embezzling money from a local non-profit organization, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Blair was formerly employed by Marshall County Starting Points Center, Inc., a non-profit social services organization in Marshall County, West Virginia. Starting Points receives federal grants from the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Blair repeatedly utilized the organization’s funds to purchase items for her own personal use.

Blair pled guilty in June 2015 to a criminal Information charging her with one count of “Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal Funds.” She was sentenced today to probation for a period of two years and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $23,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the inquiry.

U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.