A Nashville woman is being charged with stealing more than $300,000 of federal government money through the misappropriation of Department of Veteran Affairs grants.
Between 2006 and 2007, Birdie Anderson received about $360,000 in federal grant money for the purchase of two properties and a vehicle that were supposed to help homeless veterans, according to felony information filed in the U.S. District Court of Middle Tennessee.
According to a 2007 City Paper story [1], Anderson is an army veteran who started Next Stage Inc. in 2004 as a nonprofit to assist homeless veterans, especially women.
The government alleges that Anderson used some of the grant money for “her own use or use of another.” She is charged with one count of theft of more than $1,000 of public money.
Anderson is also facing a count of providing a false statement after lying about her monthly income on a loan application.
The maximum sentence on the felony theft charge is 10 years, while the false statement charge carries a maximum sentence of five years. The government also asks for forfeiture of the purchased property and remittance of $280,000 in grant money.
Links:
[1] http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/anderson-hears-calling-help-homeless-vets