Melanie S. Thompson, a former executive director of Georgia’s Hinesville Housing Authority (HHA), and another individual have been indicted on multiple counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Beginning as early as September 2019 and continuing through October 2023, Thompson is alleged to have created or authorized false invoices, directed to the private business owned by Toriono L. Byrd. These false invoices authorized payments to Byrd for work that was never completed, or in amounts that far exceeded the actual value of the work. Upon receiving these payments, Byrd is alleged to have made return payments, or kickbacks, to Thompson for her personal use and benefit.
The indictment also alleges Thompson directed multiple fraudulent payments to herself through the HHA payroll system, directed payments of fraudulent bonuses to which she was not entitled, and that Thompson made false Covid-era loan applications to the federal government. In all, this fraud allegedly resulted in a loss of more than $2.5 million for the HHA.
Thompson was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, 19 counts of Wire Fraud, and two counts of False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Claims. Byrd is charged in the indictment with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. The charges carry statutory penalties upon conviction of up to 20 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.
Photo of Melanie S. Thompson via LinkedIn
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