Ex-manager for West Virginia disaster recovery group sentenced to more than 3 years for theft

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A former finance manager of a nonprofit organization that assists West Virginia disaster victims was sentenced Thursday to more than three years in prison for the theft of $871,000 from the group.

Benjamin Cisco, 31, of Charleston was sentenced in federal court for his May 2023 guilty plea to two counts of wire fraud. He was ordered to pay full restitution.

Cisco was a finance and operations manager for the state chapter of the Arlington, Virginia-based Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, or VOAD.

Court records showed Cisco transferred money from the nonprofit’s accounts more than 100 times for his personal use and claimed travel reimbursements he wasn’t authorized to receive.

U.S. Attorney Will Thompson said Cisco’s actions “personified greed.” Thompson said Cisco used the charity’s money on vacations to Disney World, gift cards to home improvement stores and household items.

Among its work, VOAD’s state chapter was heavily involved in rebuilding bridges and homes after 2016 floods decimated parts of the state and left 23 people dead.

State lawmakers recently requested an audit of the group, which has received more than $27 million in funding since 2016.