Two former employees of a San Francisco nonprofit have been charged with grand theft in an alleged kickback scheme that cost the city $115,000.
Kenisha Roach, 47, is the former director of operations for the Providence Foundation, a nonprofit that provides a range of services for youth and low-income people in the Bayview-Hunter’s Point neighborhood. She has been charged along with Robert Lacy Jr., 47, a former client engagement manager for the organization.
The pair are accused of stealing city money that was supposed to go toward capital improvements at the Oasis Family Shelter, which the Providence Foundation operates.
In 2022, $115,000 was allegedly approved by Roach to finance infrastructure repairs for the shelter, including painting the exterior and removing deadbolt locks from rooms. Lacy was contracted to perform the work.
Invoices for work never performed
However, the improvements were never done, according to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said Lacy sent invoices for payment while knowing that the work hadn’t been completed.
Roach, who is also accused of knowing that the work wasn’t done, approved the payments. Lacy allegedly kept the payments then personally sent thousands of dollars to Roach in a suspected kickback scheme.
Roach has been charged with felony counts of misappropriating public funds, grand theft, and two counts of presenting fraudulent claims. Lacy faces felony counts of grand theft, two counts of presenting a false claim, using an incorrect contractor’s license with the intent to defraud, and a misdemeanor count of contracting without a license.
The two were arraigned Friday, each pleading not guilty to all charges and denying all allegations.
Their next court date on Feb.18 will be a pretrial conference.
The case is still an active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the District Attorney’s Office’s Public Integrity Tip Line at (628) 652-4444. Callers can remain anonymous.