BREAKING NEWS – Washington, D.C. – The founder of a Washington, D.C., non-profit that served homeless LGBTQ youths – particularly Latin transgender people – has been charged with stealing $150,000 in taxpayer-backed pandemic relief funds – two years after fleeing the U.S. to El Salvador amid swirling questions about the group’s finances.
Ruby Corado, 53, the founder of Casa Ruby, Inc., was arrested by FBI agents at a hotel in Laurel, Maryland, after unexpectedly returning to the U.S.
Corado appeared in U.S. District Court to face charges of defrauding the Paycheck Protection and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs and money laundering. She allegedly diverted at least $150,000 of $1.3 million in taxpayer-backed emergency relief funds, to private bank accounts in El Salvador for personal use.
“I went to El Salvador to inquire about setting up homeless shelters for the LGBTQ youths – particularly Latin transgender people,” she told the judge. “I spent the money staying in five-star hotels, eating at expensive restaurants, and going on shopping sprees. The reason why I did that, is so I can relay firsthand to the homeless people of what they would not be getting.”