Debby Denise Matthew Campbell, the former director of New York City’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and Mid-Bronx Senior Citizens Council, Inc. ‘s Mid-Bronx’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program, pled guilty to two counts of bank fraud for abusing her position in both non-profit organizations in attempt to misappropriate New York State funds into her own bank account.
Between 2004 and 2005, Campbell allegedly submitted fraudulent documents related to SYEP to verify that a number of SYEP participants resided in a group home for youth in Yonkers, New York, in order to direct SYEP funds into her own account. However, the participants and the group home listed in the documents were non-existent. In fact, the group home Campbell purportedly listed was her own home.
At the same time of being a director of SYEP, Campbell was also employed by another non-profit organization called the Mid-Bronx Senior Citizens Council, Inc. to direct Mid -Bronx’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program, an after-school enrichment program. Campbell again, purportedly abused her position and double endorsed payroll checks over $15,000 to her and to co-conspiring teachers’ bank accounts.
If convicted, Campbell faces a maximum penalty of 30 years of imprisonment and $1 million fine.