Former Hinesville housing director pleads not guilty as mother alleges years of mold, disrepair

HINESVILLE, Ga. (WTOC) - Former Hinesville Housing Authority Executive Director Melanie Thompson and co-defendant Toriono L. Byrd pleaded not guilty Monday to a 23-count superseding federal indictment alleging they stole more than $2.5 million from the agency.

The arraignment Oct. 26 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Benjamin W. Cheesbro in Savannah came on a superseding indictment filed Oct. 7. Both defendants waived a formal reading, remain on bond under the same conditions and are represented by new counsel, according to court minutes.

Prosecutors allege that from September 2019 to October 2023, Thompson, as executive director, created false maintenance invoices for Byrd’s company, Southeastern Coastal Property Maintenance Services LLC, for work never done or far in excess of value, directed payments often in amounts of $5,000 or less to avoid detection, and received kickbacks.

The indictment also alleges $29,987 in unauthorized bonus payments, a $3,833 monthly “LCCHDO” stipend, and fraudulent COVID-19 relief loans.

New in the superseding indictment is Count 23 against Byrd for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, alleging he possessed an IWI Tavor X95 rifle and a Black Aces Tactical 12-gauge shotgun on July 9, 2026, in Chatham County.

Prosecutors are also seeking forfeiture of $85,030.51 described as proceeds from the sale of 17 Litchfield Drive in Savannah, plus jewelry, cash and firearms.

Resident speaks out after years of disrepair

As the case moved forward, Janetta Howard, a current Housing Authority resident, told WTOC she lived nearly three years in Authority housing with mold, cockroach infestation, power failures, break-ins and threats after moving in around 2022.

“They just kept painting over it,” Howard said. “Nothing was being done.”

Howard said her son went from occasional breathing treatments to needing a nebulizer multiple times a day and a rescue inhaler. He was diagnosed with asthma. She said doctors urged her to move or notify management because mold would make it worse.

Testing Howard provided from StarLine Home & Commercial Inspections LLC showed four swab samples from the kitchen ceiling at 418 Norwood St. positive for lead on April 14, 2025.

Howard said a power failure caused food in her refrigerator to spoil, and after she moved the refrigerator outside to clean it, she received a lease violation. She said she filed a HUD complaint and is pursuing the matter civilly, and said she lost furniture and clothing to mold.

“I just want the things that I’ve lost replaced, and also some type of relief for my child because he’s having to suffer from a situation that could have been avoided if people just did their jobs,” Howard said.

In an email to WTOC, the Housing Authority said HUD found Howard’s complaint “unsubstantiated based on her allegations, and the housing authority records provided to them.”

The Authority said federal renovation-spending records would require a formal open records request identifying specific documents.

WTOC has submitted that request and is awaiting records.