Former Dunn Housing Authority director sentenced to federal prison for stealing taxpayer funds
Debbie Woodell allegedly worked with others to steal over $200K from the agency.
DUNN, N.C. (WTVD) -- Former executive director of the Dunn Housing Authority (DHA) has been sentenced to federal prison after admitting to a scheme that stole more than $200,000 from a public housing program, federal prosecutors said.
A federal judge sentenced Debbie Norris Woodell, 64, to two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to commit federal program theft. She was also ordered to repay $238,448 to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Woodell served as executive director of the Dunn Housing Authority beginning in 2014. The agency provides affordable housing to qualifying low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities. Between 2016 and 2021, investigators said she worked with others to steal more than $200,000 from the agency.
Federal officials said the scheme involved issuing checks for landscaping and maintenance work that was never performed. Prosecutors said Woodell created fake invoices, fabricated bid documents, forged signatures and provided false information to the housing authority's board while funneling much of the money for personal use.
Investigators also said she used housing authority credit cards to make unauthorized personal purchases, including ATV gear and home renovations, and then concealed the spending by creating false receipts and altering accounting records.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General.
