BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A former Mingo County resident was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and ordered to pay back money he stole from West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (WV VOAD).
U.S. District Judge Irene Berger sentenced Benjamin Cisco, 31, who stole more than $870,000 from a West Virginia nonprofit aimed at providing disaster relief, was sentenced Thursday in federal court.
From March 2020 to September 2022, Cisco diverted money electronically, purchased gift cards using a VOAD account and fraudulently received travel reimbursement totaling $874,288.34.
The judge ordered Cisco to repay that amount, although she denied a request from VOAD to tack on an additional $467,000 in restitution.
The nonprofit presented documents from an accountant which they said showed Cisco was responsible for additional unexpected costs and the loss of at least two grants. Berger denied that request, saying she had no evidence Cisco’s actions were responsible for any additional financial troubles the agency experienced.
WV VOAD Executive Director Jenny Gannaway, another former resident of Mingo County, declined to comment on the sentencing or the judge’s financial decision.
The nonprofit organization released a statement from its board of directors.
“West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster gratefully recognizes the recent sentencing by the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia in a wire fraud case involving a former employee, reported to federal authorities in September 2022,” the statement said. “We extend our sincere appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their unwavering diligence and efforts in bringing this case to justice.
“As an organization dedicated to collaborative disaster response efforts for West Virginians, we recognize the imperative of maintaining the highest standards of operational integrity,” the statement continued.
The board said the ordeal has led it to reevaluate its operations.
(WCHS contributed info for this article.)