An Austin woman was handed a 37-month prison sentence today for embezzling government funds during her tenure as the executive director of the Killeen Housing Authority. Deadra Johnson, 53, faced the gavel in Waco's federal court after pleading guilty to the charge of theft of government property, a crime that saw taxpayers and the housing insecure residents of Killeen she was meant to serve defrauded, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Johnson, whose arrest came on January 17, 2024, admitted to judiciously channeling KHA funds into her own pockets, covering personal expenses that ranged from airline tickets to a new car. On February 11, 2025, she entered a guilty plea. In addition to time behind bars, Johnson must return $297,473.30 to the government, as ordered by U.S. District Judge David Counts, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office announcement.
"In stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars while overseeing the Killeen Housing Authority, Deadra Johnson selfishly betrayed not just the federal government and American taxpayers, but also the hundreds of families who depended on KHA services," U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons was quoted as accusing in the U.S. Attorney's Office release. The case represents a concerted effort by authorities at various levels to protect the nation’s interests and bring to justice those who exploit their positions.
Johnson's schemes saw KHA funds used to sustain what Special Agent in Charge Robert Lawler with the HUD OIG called "a life of luxury." "Deadra Johnson exploited her position and violated the public trust by stealing federal funds that were intended to help provide housing for the most vulnerable people in our community," Lawler told in the statement. Their focus, along with that of the FBI and Texas state law enforcement, remains the protection of federal programs and the trust of the American public, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case was investigated by HUD OIG, the FBI, with help from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Gloff led the prosecution, ensuring that Johnson would face the consequences of her privileged abuse of her station.
