Lowly accounting clerk appointed Interim Director of Pulaski County Community Services to replace Fred Love
At another administration hearing today to represent and advocate for another victim of the alleged fraud at Pulaski County Housing Agency ("PCHA") our Russ Racop learned that Tonya Hodges had been appointed Interim Director of Pulaski County Community Services to replace Fred Love.
Up until Friday of last week, Hodges was a simple accounting clerk earning under $35,000 a year to process voucher and utility payments for housing programs.
In sworn testimony, Hodges stated she was an "accountant" and began employment on August 1, 2022.
Racop in his cross examination of her found that Hodges was not a Certified Public Accountant, did not have a degree in accounting but did have an associates degree.
Hodges also admitted that she had little knowledge and no training from HUD or the county about their programs and had little familiarity with the practice of processing housing applications or reviewing those records for compliance.
Racop asked her if she had reviewed application files before she made payments. "It was not a part of my job" Hodges replied.
Racop asked her if reviewing files and knowing the significance of certain forms and whether they adhered to policies and procedures regarding the application process was outside the scope of her position. Hodges admitted it was.
Pamela Abrams, the Neutral Hearing Officer, jumped in and stated that Hodges was not the permanent director, just the interim director and that "somebody has to sit in that seat to keep these hearing going". Basically a warm body to nod their head at statements made by the county attorney.
And speaking of a permanent director, we obtained the resignation letter submitted by Fred Love.
Followers of this blog will remember that on August 7th, Racop sent an email
that alerted County Judge Barry Hyde and County Attorney Adam Fogleman to wrongdoings of Love and deputy county attorney Veletta Smith.
From Love's resignation letter, we can deduce that County Attorney Fogleman was convinced that Love and his deputy, Veletta Smith, had been up to no good that they needed to go.
Smith submitted her resignation on August 8th.
Here are the records that did the pair in:
https://www.smr.snarkymedia.com/2023/08/evidence-of-corruption-forces.html
We can also report that sources have identified the PCHA employee that is being credited by Love as the one that provided information to Love that he used to fire several employees and accuse them off criminal activity. Her name is Holli Roy.
They had Roy out of the office today so that Racop would not be able to call her as a witness again to provide testimony about the waiting lists and how individuals were added.
Racop is set to assist others in their appeal hearings so he will get another shot at her in those hearings.