Virginia homeless shelter director used public funds on tattoo, luxury ferry trip

A Virginia woman who ran a homeless shelter for women and children was sentenced to three years in prison for defrauding a federally funded program of nearly $200,000, according to prosecutors.

Kia A. Player, 41, of Richmond, was sentenced Wednesday for wire fraud tied to her operation of RVA Sister’s Keeper, an inclement weather shelter in the Richmond metropolitan area. The shelter received more than $995,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the City of Richmond.

From August 2022 through April 2023, Player fabricated and falsified at least 35 invoices for expenses she claimed were incurred on behalf of the shelter and its residents, prosecutors said. She submitted the invoices to the city for reimbursement, causing improper payments.

According to court documents, Player submitted at least 21 inflated invoices claiming the shelter paid “VCM Catering Services” to provide breakfast and dinner. Prosecutors said VCM Catering Services did not exist.

Instead, she hired a family member who worked as a cafeteria manager at a Richmond public school to provide meals. That person at times supplied food taken from the school cafeteria, which had already been purchased with other public funds and in some cases was expired.

Prosecutors said Player also fabricated an invoice for roof repairs and kept the money provided for the work, even though the roof had multiple leaks. She submitted false documentation for laundry services on ten occasions, though the company provided services only three times, and residents sometimes received used blankets.

The scheme caused $199,163 in losses to HUD and the City of Richmond. Player spent the fraud proceeds on personal expenses, including a tattoo, airline tickets, a luxury Caribbean ferry ride in Miami Beach, furniture and purchases at an antiques store.

Player faced significant financial strain before her nonprofit secured the funding, according to CBS 6. Tax liens and a civil court judgment had been filed against her prior to her application for the nearly $1 million in shelter funds.