Former veteran’s service organization leader charged with federal program theft

HOUSTON, TX -- A 59-year-old Brenham resident has been charged in a criminal information for misappropriating thousands in federal grant funding, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Clifford Wayne Robertson is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard W. Bennett July 28 at 10 a.m.

Robertson allegedly misappropriated federal grant funding awarded to Castle Cares Community Ministry Inc. dba The Warrior’s Refuge, a nonprofit organization serving as a veteran’s homeless shelter and service facility. The charges allege that during his tenure as CEO and executive director, Robertson submitted multiple applications for federal assistance to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Labor (DOL) between February and April 2020. The Warrior’s Refuge allegedly received approximately $1.3 million and $500,000 in VA and DOL grant funds, respectively, as a result of those applications.

The information alleges that Robertson did knowingly and intentionally embezzle a portion of the federal grants awarded to the organization for unallowable personal expenditures and for counseling services that he never rendered to veterans.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 maximum possible fine.

VA - Office of Inspector General (OIG) and DOL - OIG and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh is prosecuting the case.

A criminal information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.