Former Exec Charged With Embezzling From Collinwood Development

CLEVELAND — The former executive director of the Collinwood and Nottingham Villages Development Corporation has been charged for embezzling $172,000 from her nonprofit organization, the Department of Justice announced on Thursday.

Tamiko Parker, 46, of Cleveland, will make her first court appearance on Thursday afternoon. She has been indicted on one count of theft of federal funds.

“Ms. Parker stole hundreds of thousands of dollars planned for economic development in the community,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “The only thing Ms. Parker was developing was her lavish lifestyle. She will now be held accountable for being a thief.”

Parker was executive director of Collinwood and Nottingham Villages Development Corporation, a nonprofit that was supposed to redevelop property on the northeast side of Cleveland. Between September 2014 and February 2016, she reportedly abused her position.

The indictment against her says she misused different accounts and made unauthorized cash withdrawals. She also allegedly had checks issued to her, and used corporation debit and credit cards to pay for personal expenses.

“This defendant betrayed the trust placed in her by a city and a community,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Instead of using her position to spur redevelopment, she used it as a personal piggy bank to gamble and travel.”

Parker is specifically accused of using the corporation's debit card to buy items from Harley Davidson, the Horseshoe Casino, Victoria's Secret, and in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. The credit card was used, allegedly, to buy appliances at Home Depot.

She also allegedly collected rent payments from tenants of the corporation's profits and then deposited the cash into her personal accounts.

“Those funds were designated to improve the lives of the residents and business owners in the Collinwood neighborhood,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley.

The investigation into Parker was led by the FBI and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office.

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