Who is Tiffany Carr? Ex-CEO of Florida domestic abuse charity faces felony charges for embezzling $3.4M
PORT ST JOE, FLORIDA: Tiffany Carr, the former CEO of a federally-recognized domestic abuse charity in Port St Joe, Florida, is currently facing serious legal trouble.
Carr, 54, had a warrant out for her arrest, and she eventually turned herself in at the Jackson County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina on Monday.
Carr has been arrested and charged with felony offenses related to the alleged embezzlement of more than $3.4 million intended for assisting domestic violence victims.
What are the charges against Tiffany Carr?
As per WFTV, Carr is now facing three felony charges in connection with the misappropriation of significant funds that were originally designated to aid victims of domestic violence.
Alongside her, Patricia Duarte, aged 57, who served as the organization's Chief Financial Officer, has also been charged with one count each of organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, and official misconduct.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement released an image of Carr in custody, describing her actions as "selfish and greedy," as they announced her felony charges.
Additional charges against Tiffany Carr and Patricia Duarte
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Carr and Duarte were accused of inflating their own salaries, manipulating time-off records, submitting falsified reports, and billing the state for positions that remained vacant, all contributing to the alleged fraud scheme.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said, "Government corruption is a disease that weakens trust in our institutions and steals vital resources away from our citizens who need it most.”
"The allegations against Tiffany Carr and her co-conspirator are absolutely despicable, and it's time they answered for their actions," he continued.
"I'm thankful for the hard work of so many, including my sworn fraud detectives, the FDLE, and the Attorney General's Office in helping bring these bad actors to justice and holding them accountable to the Floridians they were entrusted to serve."
Who is Tiffany Carr's husband?
Reportedly, Tiffany Carr and her husband, John Patrick Howard Jr, are accused of diverting the misappropriated funds toward the acquisition of multiple residential properties and supporting various businesses involving other family members.
The nonprofit organization, responsible for managing over $52 million in annual funds, was established 11 years ago with the mission of collecting and disbursing state and federal grants to support local shelters aiding victims of abuse.
However, in 2021, the state of Florida dissolved the organization dramatically following investigations into the alleged fraudulent activities.