Former Bradenton Housing Authority employee pleads guilty to theft charge
BRADENTON -- Stephany West, former special project director for the Bradenton Housing Authority, pleaded guilty to a theft charge earlier this week, according to documents from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tampa.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General and FBI agents raided BHA offices Sept. 19, 2013, as part of an investigation into possible financial mismanagement.
West and her boyfriend, former BHA Executive Director Wenston DeSue, allegedly took vacations and handled personal business while getting paid and never submitted vacation time, which they later cashed out.
DeSue has not been charged but remains under investigation.
After the raid, West and DeSue were escorted from the premises and later fired.
On Monday, West became the first person charged in the case. She pleaded guilty to stealing $104,550 in time she was paid for and didn't work and in unearned leave she cashed out.
West now faces up to 10 years in prison and will be required to repay the money. She could also face a fine of up $250,000 and up to three years supervision after her release from prison.
The agreement also requires West to cooperate with the continuing investigation.
West's plea will be formally accepted during a hearing March 20 in Tampa, according to defense attorney Brett McIntosh. A sentencing date will then be set.
West and McIntosh were aware of the looming charges for some time, he said, and had been working on the plea agreement filed Tuesday.
The plea deal states: "West and DeSue cashed in their unused annual and sick leave for thousands of dollars for their own personal enrichment."
West cashed out 954 hours of leave during the period investigated.
Law enforcement used surveillance in the investigation, which revealed West was either absent or engaged in nonBHA activities during work hours.
"West typically arrived at the BHA at least 1.5 to 2 hours late each day, took extended (usually multihour) lunches, ran personal errands during the work day, spent personal time with DeSue and typically left early from the BHA -- all without taking some form of leave," the agreement states. "On some days, West failed to show up to work at all, yet she still collected payment from the BHA as if she had been at work."
Investigators also used evidence obtained from SunPass data, bank and credit card statements, phone and gas invoices, receipts, photographs, documents and forensic evidence obtained during the raid.
West also admitted to regularly being absent or doing nonBHA activities during work hours and not submitting leave, to getting paid for hours she didn't work and cashing out leave she was not entitled to, according to the plea agreement.
Jessica De Leon, Herald law enforcement reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7049. You can reach her on Twitter @JDeLeon1012.
This story was originally published February 27, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Former Bradenton Housing Authority employee pleads guilty to theft charge ."