COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – The former Finance Director for Habitat for Humanity of Central South Carolina pled guilty to one count of embezzling COVID-19 relief funds.
According to a federal filing, Ashley Clark Ingram is accused of taking more than $388,000 of coronavirus relief funds owed to Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity.
An internal investigation found Ingram was “misappropriating funds,” according to a statement from William Jeter, treasurer and president-elect of Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors.
The statement said the third-party investigation found the funds were missing “as the result of ill-intent of this individual who overrode” what was described as “inadequate controls” in the non-profit’s system.
After leaving her job at Habitat for Humanity, Ingram worked for the ACLU of South Carolina as their Finance and Operations Director, an archive of the ACLU’s website shows.
A spokesperson with the ACLU confirmed Ingram is no longer employed there.
Ingram also previously worked as the accounting manager at Cactus Family Farms in Orangeburg, her biography says.
As part of the plea agreement, Ingram has agreed to surrender all assets, property and possessions purchased using the COVID-19 relief funds.
“The majority of the misappropriated funds have been recovered, and Central South Carolina Habitat anticipates it will fully recover all funds in the near future,” the statement from Jeter said.
Ingram will appear in the federal courthouse in Columbia before Judge Mary Geiger Lewis to receive bond and have a plea hearing.
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