The former head honcho of the Clermont Metropolitan Housing Authority is now facing the music after entering a guilty plea in U.S. District Court for stealing from the federal pot destined to aid low-income folks in Clermont County, Ohio. Timothy Holland, 57, from Williamsburg, has confessed to misappropriating a stash of cash, upwards of $86,000, intended to help those in need of a roof over their heads.
According to court documents, Holland's transgressions span from 2016 to 2019, while he served as the executive director at CMHA. This public housing authority, recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), was flush with over $5.9 million annually in federal funds to maintain public housing and hand out to low-income families and individuals. Think big ticket items from Amazon, tours to Canada in the company ride, culminating in a luxurious "man cave" outfitted with expensive items, all paid for by CMHA funds.
The nitty-gritty of Holland's illicit haul includes over $9,500 blown on personal purchases in 2018 alone, spanning retailers like Amazon, Sirius Radio, and Home Depot. But he didn't stop there. The following year, Holland boosted the ante by more than $25,000 in retail purchases for himself, again using CMHA funds. Beyond the shopping sprees, he's also on the hook for misusing the CMHA credit card to bankroll lodgings and gas during non-business trips.
Shawn Rice, Special Agent-in-Charge with HUD's Office of Inspector General (OIG), didn't mince words about the severity of these actions, “The defendant’s selfish and fraudulent actions not only put vital federal programs at risk, but also jeopardized the availability of HUD-assisted housing for those in our most vulnerable communities who rely on housing assistance programs,” Rice stated. Holland's plea agreement includes a recommended lockup time between three months to a year and a day. As part of his mea culpa, Holland is also on the hook for almost $87,000 in restitution to CMHA, ensuring the tab for his misconduct comes out of his pocket.
This cautionary tale unfolded under the watch of Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and the investigations by HUD's OIG, the Ohio Attorney General, and the Ohio Auditor. The guilty plea was announced, and Holland was brought to trial before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland, with Assistant United States Attorney Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo representing Uncle Sam in these proceedings.
