In a recent crackdown on fraudulent activities involving a local nonprofit, two former staffers from the Providence Foundation have found themselves on the wrong side of the law. Kenisha Roach, 41, and Robert Lacy Jr., 47, are facing multiple charges following an investigation into a scam that siphoned over $115,000 from San Francisco's coffers. This announcement comes via the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, outlining the pair's involvement in a scheme that spanned several months during 2022.
The duo was arraigned on Monday, with both Roach and Lacy entering not guilty pleas to the string of felonies and misdemeanors for which they've been indicted. According to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, the specifics of the crime involve false approvals and payments for property improvements at the Oasis Family Shelter, a Providence Foundation-managed facility. Allegations suggest that Roach greenlit work to be executed by Lacy, who lacked a proper contractor's license, for services that were ultimately never rendered.
Court documents reveal that the pair engaged in a false invoicing scam, fabricating a trail of expenses for capital work, including an exterior paint job and the removal of deadbolt locks on residential rooms. Despite compelling evidence that such work was fiction, Lacy presented bills for the phantom improvements, with Roach allegedly rubber-stamping the payments. The arrangement saw Providence disbursing funds to Lacy, funds that had their origin in the city's purse. These illicit activities went undetected for a period, during which Lacy is accused of paying kickbacks to Roach out of the fraudulent earnings.
The Providence Foundation, which had entrusted Roach with the role of Director of Operations, and Lacy, who served as a client engagement manager, now sees its name marred by the malfeasance of its former employees. In the web of deceit woven by the accused, it is the city and its inhabitants who bear the brunt of the burden, with over $115,000 in public funds evaporated into thin air.
As the legal process unfolds, with a pretrial conference scheduled for February 18, the scandal remains a focal point for the Public Integrity Task Force's ongoing investigation. Citizens who may hold information relevant to this fiasco are encouraged by the District Attorney's office to come forward, offering anonymity to those who may need it. The Public Integrity Tip Line remains open at 1-628-652-4444 for such tips.
