A Montgomery County resident, Willie Lee Moore, has pleaded guilty to theft of government property in connection with a scheme involving funds from a COVID-19 support program. The announcement was made by Dan Bishop, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina.
The case centers on the misuse of money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act established the Coronavirus Relief Fund to help states and local governments cover expenses related to the COVID-19 emergency. In North Carolina, these federal funds were used by the Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) to create the COVID-19 Support Services Program. This program aimed to assist individuals in certain counties who needed help quarantining or isolating due to COVID-19 exposure or illness. Assistance included home-delivered meals, groceries, face masks, hand sanitizer, and cleaning supplies.
According to court documents, Moore worked with Jamie Ewings and Navonne Moore through Brutonville Concerned Citizens (BCC), a not-for-profit organization subcontracted by NC DHHS partners to provide food boxes and other supplies. While BCC did deliver some aid as required, prosecutors say that Moore and his associates submitted fraudulent invoices and receipts so that BCC would receive more reimbursement than it was owed. The three then agreed to divide the extra funds among themselves.
In total, BCC received about $1.14 million across five payments between November 2020 and February 2021. Of this amount, Moore received approximately $369,000; Ewings about $384,000; and Navonne Moore around $180,000. The remaining funds stayed in BCC’s bank account.
Sentencing for Willie Lee Moore is set for February 24, 2026 at 9:30 a.m., before Chief/Senior United States District Judge Catherine C. Eagles in Greensboro. He faces up to ten years in prison as well as supervised release for up to three years and possible restitution or other penalties.
Jamie Ewings previously pleaded guilty in this case and was sentenced to 13 months in prison. Navonne Moore also pleaded guilty—on a misdemeanor charge—and received four years of probation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation into this matter while Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Waid is prosecuting the case.
