Three Arrested and Charged with Theft of Government Funds

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; and Miguel Exposito, Chief, City of Miami Police Department, announce that defendants Chante Sweet, 34, of Miami, Simone West, 21, of Hollywood, and Ashley Rolle, 25, of St. Petersburg, Florida, were arrested Friday, April 29, 2011 in connection with an indictment charging them with theft from a government program, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A).

According to the indictment, Chante Sweet was employed with the City of Miami Neighborhood Enhancement Team from 2007 through 2009. Sweet, who oversaw the Miami ACES program, is charged with stealing approximately $21,932 in federal grant money from the City of Miami with the assistance of co-defendants Ashley Rolle and Simone West. The ACES program was a grant program that received federal funding to prepare volunteers to engage in emergency preparedness outreach for the City of Miami community while building office and interpersonal skills.

Mr. Ferrer commends the investigative efforts of the FBI and the City of Miami Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Gonsoulin.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.