Former Hinesville Housing Authority director indicted on wire fraud, conspiracy charges

HINESVILLE, Ga. (WTOC) - The former executive director of the Hinesville Housing Authority and another person have been indicted on multiple counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Margaret E. “Meg” Heap of the Southern District of Georgia announced.

55-year-old Melanie S. Thompson of Savannah, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 19 counts of wire fraud, and two counts of false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims. 52-year-old Toriono L. Byrd of Savannah, is charged in the indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

What the indictment alleges

According to the indictment, beginning as early as September 2019 and continuing through October 2023, Thompson allegedly created or authorized false invoices directed to Byrd’s private business, authorizing payments to Byrd for work that was never completed or in amounts that far exceeded the actual value of the work. Byrd is alleged to have made return payments, or kickbacks, to Thompson for her personal use and benefit.

The indictment also alleges that Thompson directed multiple fraudulent payments to herself through the payroll system, directed payments of fraudulent bonuses to which she was not entitled, and made false COVID-era loan applications to the federal government.

The scheme is alleged to have resulted in a loss of more than $2.5 million for the HHA.

Potential penalties

The charges carry statutory penalties upon conviction of up to 20 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.

Investigating agencies

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and L. Alexander Hamner.