News - Former Housing Director Imprisoned for Embezzlement

Debbie Norris Woodell, once the executive director of North Carolina's Dunn Housing Authority, has received a two-year federal prison sentence along with three years of supervised release following her admission of guilt in a conspiracy to embezzle taxpayer money. Between 2016 and 2021, Woodell orchestrated with accomplices to siphon off more than $200,000 by fabricating bids and invoices for non-existent maintenance projects. Accusations further included document forgery, misleading the housing authority's board, and misusing agency credit cards for personal expenditure such as home upgrades and an all-terrain vehicle. Apart from her prison term, Woodell is mandated to repay $238,448 to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, reflecting the total amount embezzled.