Homewood Woman Sentenced to 8 Years for Her Part in Grant Kickback Plot

Leon Dingle and Quinshaunta Golden

A Homewood woman was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in prison for her participation in a fraudulent, multimillion-dollar grant program.

Quinshaunta Golden, 46, a former chief of staff for the Illinois Department of Public Health, pleaded guilty in April 2014 to bribery and obstruction of justice charges and admitted she received more than $400,000 in kickbacks in a scheme through which she issued more than $11 million in state grants. The state grants were awarded to Leon Dingle, a South Side businessman who claimed to be using the money to help people with AIDS and cancer.

In addition to serving her time, Golden will be required to repay $1 million to the department. She will also be allowed three years of supervised release after her imprisonment, and may not open any line of credit worth more than $500 without permission.

At least 20 people—including U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, a Chicago Democrat and Golden’s uncle, and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Andrea Zopp—offered to vouch for Golden during her sentencing hearing in federal court Friday.

“”This is no anomaly,” Assistant US Attorney Timothy Bass said about Golden’s character. “This was a deliberate act by a public official.”

Golden’s attorney desribed the damage to her reputation and difficulties with pregnancy, depression, and physical illness as reasons for leniency in her sentencing.

“This has been a daily struggle,” Golden said. “It seems I will wear the face of guilt, shame and embarrassment forever.”

She is currently out on bond and will report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on Sept. 1.

Read more:

• Homewood Woman Trysted with Accused Fraudster in Her State Office: Feds