Hoover Woman Charged With Stealing From YWCA

BIRMINGHAM, AL - A Hoover woman has been charged with stealing nearly $200,000 from the Young Women's Christian Association of Central Alabama between 2012 and 2017. Rikki Ross, who had been the director of child development services since 2010, allegedly used a fraudulent account to charge people for YWCA childcare services and directed more than $190,000 to her personal bank account.

Ross was in charge of processing debit and credit purchases for child care services, and used Square technology to route payments to her personal bank account.

YWCA officials released a statement regarding the incident, saying: "Although we cannot speak to any specifics since this is a police matter, we want to assure our parents and community partners that this has not and will not affect the quality of care we provide children utilizing the services of the YWCA. We take our commitment to providing them the best start in life very seriously."

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Authorities said Ross agreed to forfeit $198,597 to the government as proceeds of illegal activity, and to pay that same amount in restitution to the YWCA.

The maximum penalty for federal program fraud is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Secret Service investigated the case in conjunction with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Beardsley Mark is prosecuting the case.

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