The former executive director of the Hinesville Housing Authority and another individual have been indicted on multiple counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to a July 14 announcement by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Melanie S. Thompson, 55, of Savannah, faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 19 counts of wire fraud, and two counts of false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims. Toriono L. Byrd, 52, also of Savannah, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in the same indictment.
According to the indictment, beginning as early as September 2019 through October 2023 while employed with the Hinesville Housing Authority (HHA), Thompson is alleged to have created or authorized false invoices directed to Byrd’s private business that authorized payments for work never completed or in amounts exceeding actual value. The indictment further alleges that after receiving these payments from HHA funds, Byrd made return payments or kickbacks to Thompson for her personal use and benefit.
The indictment also alleges that Thompson used her role as executive director to direct multiple fraudulent payments through the payroll system for herself and paid out bonuses she was not entitled to receive. Additionally, she is accused of making false Covid-era loan applications to the federal government. In total, it is alleged that this scheme resulted in a loss exceeding $2.5 million for the housing authority.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. The statutory penalties upon conviction include up to 20 years in prison per count, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years supervised release after any prison term.
The case was investigated by several agencies including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General; Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Secret Service; and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Prosecution will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and L. Alexander Hamner from the Southern District of Georgia.
The U.S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District operates under the United States Department of Justice with headquarters in Savannah and a staffed branch in Augusta; it employs about 70 attorneys and support staff while prosecuting federal crimes such as those described above—additionally promoting community safety via programs like Project Safe Neighborhoods—according to its official website.