Charity boss blew $11M meant for needy kids on mansions, flashy yellow Mercedes for her lover
Connie Bobo allegedly stole $11 million from New Heights Community Resource Center in Bridgeton, Mo. that was meant to go to needy children. medium.com
A Missouri nonprofit director is accused of stealing nearly $11 million in federal funds meant to feed hungry, low-income children — instead splurging on luxury homes, lavish goods, and a bright yellow Mercedes for her boyfriend, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Connie Bobo, 46, who operated the New Heights Community Resource Center in Bridgeton, allegedly claimed she used about $20 million in taxpayer-funded reimbursements to provide meals between February 2019 and March 2022. In reality, prosecutors say less than half of that money actually went toward food.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow told jurors that Bobo “bought a mansion for herself, houses for her family, and a bright yellow Mercedes for her boyfriend,” all with funds intended to feed children in need.
“As her lies were discovered, the defendant used forged documents to try and cover up her crimes,” Clow said, according to stltoday.com.
Federal prosecutors allege Bobo purchased seven properties during her spending spree, including a nearly $1 million mansion in St. Charles. About $2.2 million in program funds — distributed through the U.S. Department of Agriculture — was allegedly diverted into a commercial real estate investment.
Investigators also say Bobo gave roughly $1.4 million to her boyfriend, Howard Hughes III, who spent more than $200,000 of that money on a luxury Mercedes-Benz G550 Wagon 4×4 Squared.
To conceal her scheme, Bobo allegedly listed family members and friends as board members of the New Heights charity without their consent. One friend, Dacia Betts, testified Tuesday that she was stunned to learn she’d been named the nonprofit’s vice president only after being contacted by the FBI.
Bobo’s defense attorney, Katryna Spearman, argued that her client did not intend to violate federal rules and worked to correct any mistakes before her arrest.
“Every step that Ms. Bobo took was for the best interest of the community and an attempt to give back,” Spearman told jurors during opening statements.
Bobo faces charges including three counts of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and obstruction for allegedly falsifying vendor invoices subpoenaed by a federal grand jury. If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison.
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