Former Belle Fourche shelter director suspects possible fraud - KOTA Territory News

Former Belle Fourche shelter director suspects possible fraud

We have received new information on the circumstances surrounding the closure of a Belle Fourche homeless shelter for women veterans.

The home's former director says she's not sure if it was intentional or not, but she definitely noticed misuse of funds and possibly even fraud.
 
Marlene Marvin, a Marine Corps vet herself, was fired in March, she says, for bringing concerns to the board of directors.

She says she became suspicious when none of the home's staff was paid between February and mid-March.

She couldn't figure out where the money was going.
 
"Almost every item of furniture, electrical equipment, bedding, whatever, had been donated," she said. "And my question was, where did this over-$1 million go?"
 
Marvin is prepared to file a wrongful termination lawsuit, and even contacted the inspector general for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C., about her suspicions.

In an e-mail she received in response back in May, the agency said it was reviewing all the information to determine the proper course of action.