BRENHAM MAN SENTENCED FOR EMBEZZLING FEDERAL GRANT MONEY FOR VETERANS

  

A Brenham man has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to misappropriating federal grant funding meant to support veterans.

59-year-old Clifford Wayne Robertson was ordered to serve 42 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release.

According to a release on Friday from the U.S. Attorney’s Office – Southern District of Texas, Robertson embezzled federal grant funds awarded to Castle Cares Community Ministry Inc., which operated a veterans’ homeless shelter under the name The Warrior’s Refuge.

Per the release, Robertson submitted multiple applications for federal assistance to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Labor (DOL) on behalf of The Warrior’s Refuge.  The organization received approximately $1.3 million from the VA and $500,000 from the DOL.

In his plea, Robertson admitted to knowingly using some of those grant funds for unallowable personal expenses and for using funds for counseling services that veterans never received.  This resulted in a loss of $180,216.

Senior U.S. District Judge David Hittner handed down the sentence, which was influenced by Robertson’s criminal history, including prior convictions for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Robertson was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility at a date to be determined.