The former CEO of two Inland Empire nonprofit organizations which she allegedly used to filch federal grant funds pleaded not guilty Tuesday to more than two dozen felony charges.
Donise Warren, 51, also known as Donise Warren-Jackson, of Canyon Lake, was taken into custody Tuesday after a federal indictment was handed down, alleging she diverted over $225,000 to cover a variety of personal expenses.
Warren is charged with 15 counts each of embezzlement of government property and embezzlement of organizations receiving federal funds.
She made her initial appearance at U.S. District Court in downtown Riverside, where a magistrate released her on a $75,000 bond.
A July 1 trial date was tentatively set in the matter.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Warren served as CEO for San Bernardino-based Citadel Community Development Corp. and executive director for its sister nonprofit, Citadel Community Care Facility. Her tenure at the former spanned over seven years, ending in October 2023, and the latter she headed from March 2020 to February 2023.
The mission of CCDC was “to assist at-risk individuals with accessing affordable housing, career services and education services,” according to an agency statement.
Prosecutors allege Warren applied for three grants from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, which awarded CCDC six-figure sums.
“Warren allegedly embezzled approximately $101,000 of CCDC’s grant money and caused it to be used on wedding and travel expenses, including a $25,000 payment to her spouse’s personal credit card,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In the case of the community care facility, Warren sought a U.S. Department of Health & Human Services grant, via the agency’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
“After CCCF was awarded the grant, Warren embezzled approximately $127,500 of the money to her personal Coinbase account, where she purchased various cryptocurrencies,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated.
The case was investigated by the Labor Department’s Office of Inspector General and HHS’ Office of Inspector General.