A Madison County woman was sentenced on Apr. 30 to more than two years in prison for bribery, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
U.S. District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Megan Nicole Tillery, 39, of Meridianville, Alabama, to 28 months in prison after she pleaded guilty in October 2025 to using an interstate commerce facility in aid of racketeering.
According to court documents, Tillery worked as a Community Intake Specialist with the Community Action Partnership during the second quarter of 2022. She used her position to solicit bribes from individuals seeking Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds by applying these funds to accounts of people who did not qualify and also solicited money from at least one individual who did qualify for assistance. Between July 2022 and December 2023, she received more than $15,000 in bribes.
LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps eligible households reduce their energy costs through grants. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is responsible for administering LIHEAP funds statewide and partners with organizations like Community Action Partnership in Madison and Limestone Counties.
“This defendant was afforded a position of trust, and she used it to enrich herself,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby. “We will continue to hold people accountable who exploit taxpayer-funded programs intended to benefit struggling Americans for their own personal gain.”
“Abusing one’s position for personal gain, especially during a time of crisis, shows a blatant disregard for the oath that every government official takes,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Birmingham Division. “Federal assistance programs are created to support individuals, families, and businesses that have experienced significant loss. FBI Birmingham along with our partners are dedicated to protecting these programs from fraud to ensure that honest citizens can receive the assistance they need most during difficult times. Anyone who commits fraud against the government will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama advances community safety through initiatives focused on public engagement according to its official website. The office includes facilities located in Birmingham and Huntsville according to its official website and is part of the U.S Department of Justice according to its official website. It serves more than 2.8 million people across 31 counties according to its official website, prosecuting federal crimes as well as defending civil cases involving the United States while recovering funds lost due to fraud according to its official website. The office collaborates with law enforcement agencies throughout these counties—including Birmingham and Huntsville—to protect residents within its jurisdiction according to its official website.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the FBI; Tennessee Valley Authority – Office of Inspector General; and U.S Department of Health & Human Services – Office of Inspector General.
