Former group home operator is charged with wire fraud

Criminal complaint alleges Redwood City woman spent foster children funds on self

SAN JOSE >> A 53- year- old Redwood City woman has been charged with wire fraud for allegedly spending money meant for foster children on personal expenses instead, according to court records.

A criminal complaint filed in U. S. District Court on Oct. 30 states Annie Corbett owned and operat ed C orbet t Group Homes and received funds from local county governments, including Santa Clara County, through Title IV- E Aid to Families with Dependent Children — Foster Children, a federal program that benefits foster children.

From 2011 to 2018, Corbett allegedly used wire transfers to convert the funds and used the money “for her personal enrichment, including credit card payments, personal expenses and personal retail business payments,” according to the complaint.

The complaint specifically alleges that Corbett transferred $9,000 from a Corbett Group Homes account into an unaffiliated account Nov. 15, 2016, and spent the funds on personal living expenses.

She concealed the existence of the latter account from an auditor, who prepared Corbett Group Homes’ tax returns, according to the complaint.

Corbett closed her three San Jose group homes in 2018, this news organization previously has reported.

If convicted of the charge, Corbett faces up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. Her initial court appearance has been set for Nov. 19.