Former Child Care Chain CEO Pleads Guilty to Theft of Funds; Gets Prison Time

The former CEO of a Georgia-based child care center with locations in Atlanta and other cities has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges stemming from his theft of federal funds meant to reimburse facilities for meals for at-needs children.

39-year-old Macon resident Antonio T. Hurt served as the CEO of Bright Star Early Learning Center starting in 2007. He allowed third party franchises to operate under the Bright Star Name. Prior to his naming as CEO, Hurt sought permission from the federal government to enroll Bright Star Early Learning Center into the Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). CACFP, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture designed to partially reimburse child care facilities for their expenses incurred by feeding needy children.

Georgia child care centers participating in CACFP are under the subordination of the Georgia Department of Early Care & Learning and they must submit information to the department detailing the number of eligible students, meals, and related information for each 30 day period. The department then reimburses each child care center.

From October, 2007 to January, 2010, Hurt submitted fraudulent claims to the department which grossly overstated the amount of eligible children and meals provided to eligible children at Bright Star franchises. Hurt would distribute the legitimate reimbursements to his franchises and keep the rest for himself.

During the two plus years of this scheme, Hurt bilked $1.9 million from the department, and used the ill-gotten gains to expand and fund the franchises and to enhance his lifestyle.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation caught wind of Hurt’s scheme and began an investigation which led to the arrest of Hurt.

Hurt pleaded guilty on April 9 to charges of fraud and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg to serve 25 months in prison, three years on probation, and must pay restitution in the amount of $1,872,152.78.

In a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia Atlanta Division, J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “Stealing federal funds destined to feed needy children and using those funds to purchase luxury personal items is the epitome of a selfish act. This sentencing will hold Mr. Hurt accountable for his selfish act and serve as a reminder that the FBI will make every effort to identify and present for prosecution those individuals abusing their positions by diverting and stealing federal funds from their intended purpose for personal gain.”