A Richmond woman, Kia A. Player, was sentenced to three years in prison for wire fraud related to her management of a homeless shelter for women and children. According to court documents, Player, 41, operated RVA Sister’s Keeper after securing a grant to run an inclement weather shelter in the Richmond area.
RVA Sister’s Keeper received more than $995,000 in government funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the City of Richmond. Between August 2022 and April 2023, Player fabricated at least 35 invoices for expenses she claimed were made on behalf of the shelter. However, these expenditures did not occur.
Player submitted fraudulent invoices to the City of Richmond for reimbursement, leading the city to disburse funds improperly. One example involved at least 21 inflated invoices for payments allegedly made to “VCM Catering Services” for meals provided at the shelter. This business did not exist; instead, Player hired a family member who worked as a cafeteria manager at a local public school. The food sometimes came from the school cafeteria—food already paid for with public funds and occasionally expired.
Player also created an invoice indicating that roof repairs had been completed at the shelter and submitted it to the city. She kept the money meant for these repairs even though multiple leaks remained unaddressed. Additionally, she fabricated records showing payment to a laundry company on ten occasions when services were only rendered three times; residents sometimes received used blankets as a result. Other false invoices included claims for bed bug treatment that never occurred.
The scheme resulted in actual losses totaling $199,163 to HUD and the City of Richmond. Prosecutors said Player used some of these funds on personal items such as tattoos, airline tickets, luxury ferry rides in Miami Beach, furniture, and antiques.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division and HUD’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth prosecuted with significant assistance from the City of Richmond.
“A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia,” according to officials.
Related court documents can be found through resources such as PACER or by searching Case No. 3:25-cr-146 on relevant judicial websites.
