Executive Director of Chicago Charity Charged with Embezzelment

Cook County State’s Attorney Richard A. Devine today announced felony charges have been placed against the two top officers of a nonprofit agency for misappropriating more than $500,000 in city, state, and federal funds intended to provide rehabilitation for prostitutes.

Charged were Patti Buffington, 47, the executive director of Genesis House, and Valerie Lewis, 45, the agency’s chief executive officer. Buffington, of 6033 N. Sheridan, was charged with being the organizer of a continuing financial crimes enterprise, a Class X felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Lewis, of 209 N. Austin, was charged with Class 1 felony theft, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Together they are charged with stealing more than $526,000 over the last three years.

Buffington has a 1998 prior conviction for federal tax fraud and served the community service portion of her sentence at Genesis House. She was also placed on three years probation.

It is alleged that Buffington used some of the money to pay for private school for her daughter, for cars, for expensive clothing, for a lakefront condo and for frequent trips to the Caribbean.

“It is outrageous that these two were looting the funds intended to help some of our most unfortunate citizens get out of a life of crime and disease,” Devine said.  “The way Buffington looted this agency was blatant, and it is simply outrageous that the stolen money went to fund such a lavish lifestyle.”

The investigation was initiated by Inspector General David Hoffman for the City of Chicago and was conducted jointly by the IGO and the State’s Attorney’s office and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. The federal Health and Human Services also provided assistance.

“Genesis House has provided important and desperately needed services to particularly vulnerable women,” Hoffman said. “Because of its good work, funds flowed in from donors and governments – including the City of Chicago – but much of these funds never made it to the women who needed them because the defendants simply stole the money.”

Genesis House, at 2815 W. Fifth Ave., was closed temporarily earlier this year following an April raid by investigators in which documents were seized.

It is alleged that Buffington stole $479,012 and used $51,751 to repay the IRS for monies it owed stemming from her 1998 conviction. Lewis allegedly stole $47,238.

Lewis appeared in court Wednesday and Buffington is scheduled to appear in Br. 44 on Friday.

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