Former Dunn Housing Authority Director Sentenced To Prison For Stealing Taxpayer Funds
NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Debbie Norris Woodell, 64, to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to commit federal program theft. Woodell was also ordered to repay $238,448 to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Woodell became the Executive Director of the Dunn Housing Authority (DHA) in 2014. DHA is a federally funded agency that provides affordable housing to qualifying low‑income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities in Dunn, North Carolina.
Between 2016 and 2021, Woodell exploited her position, working with others to steal more than $200,000 from DHA. As part of the scheme, she issued checks from DHA accounts to co‑conspirators for unapproved landscaping and maintenance work that they never ever started. She funneled most of the money back to her personal use.
To carry out the fraud, she fabricated bid documents, created fake invoices, forged signatures, and provided false information to DHA’s board of commissioners. Woodell also misused DHA credit cards to make thousands of dollars in unauthorized personal purchases, including ATV gear and home renovations for her house. She concealed the theft by creating false receipts and altering DHA’s accounting records.
“Debbie Woodell violated the trust placed in her, orchestrating multiple fraud schemes and compromising the federal procurement process by stealing more than $200,000 intended to support vulnerable members of the community,” said Special Agent in Charge Jerome Winkle of HUD’s Office of Inspector General. “Her actions were especially damaging given the limited resources available. HUD OIG will continue working with law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate and hold accountable those who misuse public funds for personal gain.”
“In limited circumstances, HUD pays for citizen’s housing with taxpayers’ dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Woodell stole those dollars robbing both taxpayers and indigent recipients of America’s generosity. We will continue to hold greedy fraudsters accountable and ensure that criminals who exploit public programs face serious consequences. Cheaters. Never. Win.”
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. HUD’s Office of Inspector General investigated the case.
Discover more from JoCo Report
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I know this person personally, and she is a very good lady. sometimes people do things that they regret. and I’m sure she’s one of them .
Clearly she isn’t. The proof is in the pudding. She regrets getting caught
You people have no idea what the f*** you’re talking about! If you knew this woman you would know that she was not a thief. She was set up!
She’ll have a couple years to think about what she did.
Should have given her 10 years
Disgusting behavior.
If politicians do it at this level imagine the higher ranks.
Don’t believe everything you read. Those who know her well know better. She’s not a thief
Sorry @Anonymous. I trust the auditors. It’s quite simple to follow the audit trail. People who embezzle are just thieves waiting to get caught.
She better be glad this is not the old west…We know what happened to thieves…
Bet she never pays it back probably getting a retirement check of tax payers
Wow! I doubt she was alone in this there’s too many things to think she did this all alone
Consider reading the article.
Some of the responses here are incredible. “She’s not a thief”
What?
Clearly, she IS a thief!
You don’t know the story. And the article is also wrong. She did not plead guilty just so you know
We need to deport all these illegals who are causing all the problems!
Oh wait…
How about we deport all the illegals AND lock up all of the criminal citizens also. Two things can be done at the same time.
We need to do both.
Nice social justice warrior try though.
Then why do we spent 79% of the budget on *illegals* when 93% of all crimes are committed but full, US citizens? #thingsThatMakeYouGoHmmm
“… the budget….” 🙂
What I was thinking…blame it on the rain
Wow! These comments make me laugh because knowing a person don’t mean she can’t steal over $200,000 from the tax payers! Yall funny
Y’all believe everything you hear and read. I know for a fact that this was a see up. No problem until she has been retired after working there over 30 years. Remember the Kenly town manager?? Very similar situation. It’s not stolen money but missing contracts. Bunch of BS.