Two former staffers at a San Francisco nonprofit appeared in court this week, accused of steering more than $115,000 in city funds into an alleged kickback scheme tied to a family shelter. Prosecutors say Kenisha Roach, 41, and Robert Lacy Jr., 47, routed public money through bogus improvement projects at the Oasis Family Shelter. Both have pleaded not guilty to a slate of felony and misdemeanor counts and deny the allegations. The case centers on invoices for capital improvements at the shelter that investigators say were never carried out, and the probe remains active.
Charges and arraignment
Prosecutors say Roach, the Providence Foundation's former director of operations, faces felony counts of misappropriation of public monies, grand theft and two counts of presenting a fraudulent claim. Lacy, a former client engagement manager, is charged with grand theft, two counts of presenting a false claim, use of an incorrect contractor's license with intent to defraud and a misdemeanor count of contracting without a license. Both were arraigned on January 2 and pleaded not guilty, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
What prosecutors say
Court documents and reporting describe the alleged scheme as unfolding between June and September 2022, when Roach is accused of approving more than $115,000 in capital improvements to be performed by Lacy at the Oasis Family Shelter. Prosecutors say invoices claimed work that included an exterior paint project and the removal of deadbolt locks. However, they allege that site visits and records later showed the work was not performed. According to investigators, Lacy kept the payments and then kicked back thousands of dollars to Roach. The chronology and investigative findings are detailed by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The shelter at the center
The Oasis Family Shelter, a 59-room site for families that the city moved to preserve specifically for family use, sits at 900 Franklin Street. The property was acquired to ensure it remained part of San Francisco's shelter network. At the time the invoices in question were submitted, Providence Foundation was running services at the site under city grants. The city's announcement about purchasing Oasis and arranging shelter operations is available from the City of San Francisco.
Providence Foundation background
The Providence Foundation has been under scrutiny in recent years over contract oversight, hiring practices and other management concerns. City officials suspended the nonprofit from receiving new contracts and later resolved related claims in a settlement this past year. Reporting describes how city attorneys and watchdogs dug into billing practices and contract management, and how the organization ultimately agreed to steps intended to tighten financial controls and oversight. The Chronicle's reporting lays out the broader context and settlement details, and Hoodline provided earlier coverage of the arraignments.
Legal implications
The charges include multiple felonies tied to misappropriating public funds and presenting fraudulent claims, allegations that can bring prison time, fines and restitution if the defendants are convicted. Roach and Lacy have both pleaded not guilty, setting the stage for a pretrial process in which prosecutors will have to prove that the invoices were false and that there was intent to defraud, beyond a reasonable doubt.
What is next
Both defendants are scheduled to return to court for a pretrial conference on February 18, 2026, and the District Attorney's office says the investigation remains active. Officials are asking anyone with information to contact the Public Integrity Tip Line at 1-628-652-4444. According to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, the office plans to provide updates as the case moves forward.
