NASHVILLE (AP) — The former director of a Tennessee drug abuse prevention group was sentenced Friday to 15 months in prison for using the nonprofit's money to buy an automobile, renovate his home and pay personal bills.
Beginning in 2014, Patrick Martin of Gainesboro diverted grant money that was supposed to benefit the Community Prevention Coalition of Jackson County for his personal use, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney's office in Nashville. He also used employment taxes withheld from his employees' paychecks for his own benefit. To hide the embezzlement, Martin filed false income tax returns, according to the news release.
Martin pleaded guilty in August 2021 to wire fraud and tax fraud charges.
In addition to his prison sentence, Martin was ordered to pay $375,000 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services for the grant money he took, and $132,373 to the IRS. Martin was also ordered to forfeit $211,795.