An AIDS Help case worker has been fired, accused of stealing hundreds of dollars in food vouchers intended for the use of the organization's AID clients, and trading them for crack cocaine.
"We had been contacted last September by Lynn McNeill, a detective in the Sheriff's Dept., said AIDS Help Executive Director Richard Hart. "She said that she had received a tip that Cecil Bain, one of our case workers, had been exchanging food vouchers for drugs. She requested that we conduct an audit of out voucher program."
The audit determined that seven $25 vouchers were missing from the office, Hart said.
"When I confronted Bain, he admitted that he had taken the vouchers," Hart said. "But I wanted to give him another chance— if he would go into drug rehab and agree to make full restitution."
But when the audit of the food voucher program was expanded, it was discovered that more than $5000 in vouchers might be missing.
"One of Bain's jobs was to deliver food vouchers— basically $25 gift certificates from Winn Dixie— to AIDS clients," Hart said. "We found a number of instances where vouchers were never delivered.
"We have, of course, ensured that all of those clients have received replacement vouchers."
Bain was fired on Feb. 11.
"I am consulting with my board," Hart said. "We are considering calling in the State Attorney. But the most important thing here is to get full restitution. We owe that to our contributors and our clients."
Hart also emphasized that he now has controls in place that will prevent the fraudulent use of food vouchers in the future.