Former Housing Authority of Bexar County Executive Director Faces Federal Embezzlement Charge

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that a federal embezzlement charge was filed today against 44-year-old Laura Morales of San Antonio charging her with stealing over $131,000 from the Housing Authority of Bexar County (HABC).

A one-count Information filed by the United States Attorney’s Office charges Morales, the former Executive Director of HABC, with theft from an agency receiving federal program funds.  If convicted, she faces up to ten years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

The Information alleges that from November 2003, until June 2008, Morales knowingly stole more than $131,000 in Housing Authority funds and used them for her own personal benefit.  The Information seeks a monetary judgment against her in the amount of $131,144.79 upon conviction.

According to an affidavit filed with the Information, Morales allegedly stole money from HABC’s Section 8 General Fund and the Bexar Springs Fund (the operating account for the Bexar Springs apartment complex run by the HABC).  Under her scheme, Morales repeatedly granted herself annual leave that she had not earned and then wrote checks to herself on the two funds to compensate herself for the unearned leave.  Morales admitted the scheme to investigators and said she fraudulently used a signature stamp of the HABC’s Board Chairman to sign them.  She deposited the monies into her own account and used them for her own personal expenses.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted for the government by Assistant United States Attorneys Ray and LeRoy Jahn.

An information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.