The former head of a Charlotte domestic violence and homeless shelter is now officially admitting she stole nearly $95,000 from the nonprofit she was paid to protect.
Teri Lyn Looney, former executive director of SIREN/Eaton Shelter, pleaded guilty today to a federal theft charge after acknowledging she took money from the organization that serves domestic violence survivors and unhoused families. The plea follows a multi-agency investigation and a frantic fundraising push to keep the shelter’s doors open while the books were sorted out.
According to MLive, Looney entered her plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ray Kent and will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering. The outlet reports that Looney admitted diverting both grant and donation funds, and that the plea agreement details a string of unauthorized withdrawals, certified checks and Cash App transfers. She remains free on bond while she waits for sentencing and faces up to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release.
Federal indictment and investigation
Looney’s guilty plea comes after a federal grand jury indictment in August 2025 on a single count of theft from a program receiving federal funds, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors say she embezzled about $95,000 while serving as executive director between June 2021 and May 2023.
The case has drawn in multiple agencies, including the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Michigan Attorney General’s Criminal Investigations Division, all working to unravel how shelter money allegedly slipped out the door.
Plea agreement lays out alleged scheme
The plea agreement, described by MLive, outlines a pattern of unauthorized cash withdrawals, certified checks Looney was not allowed to issue and payments routed through Cash App. Federal documents put the total loss at $95,193, according to the Justice Department’s OIG.
Shelter scrambled to cover services
SIREN staff discovered money missing in May 2023 and quickly launched an emergency crowdfunding campaign to keep services going. Outreach coordinator Tracie Socey said the shelter set a $300,000 goal to bridge the gap while investigators did their work.
"Our insurance company cannot reimburse any funds until the investigation is complete," Socey told FOX47, underscoring how the shelter was stuck in financial limbo. The organization later pulled in donations and secured a $500,000 allocation in the 2024 state budget, according to reporting by the Lansing State Journal.
What’s next in court
Looney pleaded guilty to one federal count of theft from a program receiving federal funds. The conviction carries a maximum of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and mandatory restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sentencing will be handled by U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering, and prosecutors are expected to seek restitution for money lost to SIREN and its clients.
Federal aid still arriving
Even while the criminal case moved ahead, federal money continued to flow to the shelter. A HUD Continuum of Care project grant dated Feb. 1 shows about $51,000 obligated to SIREN/Eaton Shelter in Charlotte. The award suggests that federal funding streams for victim services and homelessness programs can keep operating independently of leadership turmoil, at least in the near term.
Prosecutors will lay out their recommendations at sentencing, and the court will decide Looney’s punishment. In the meantime, SIREN leaders say they remain focused on keeping survivors and families housed while the legal process runs its course.
