Former Executive Director of Stanford Housing Authority Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Federal Funding Theft

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Junction City, Ky., woman, Ashley Nicole Lear, 43, was sentenced on Wednesday to 13 months imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Chad Merdith for three counts of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. According to her plea agreement, Lear engaged in multiple acts of financial misconduct during her tenure as Executive Director of Stanford Housing Authority (SHA) in Lincoln County. From July 2023 to March 2025, Lear, whose contracted salary was $58,000, paid herself unauthorized bonuses and inflated her salary. Investigators found that Lear provided forged board meeting minutes to auditors to support the falsified salary increases and bonuses. Lear also used SHA’s credit card for personal purchases including restaurant bills, salon services, retail shopping, travel accommodations, and concert tickets. She also used the agency’s vehicle for personal travel. Specific incidents detailed in the charges include unauthorized wire transfers from SHA’s bank account to her personal Chime account which were labeled as bonuses and using the SHA credit card at a tanning salon. During the period of the misconduct, SHA received more than $10,000 in federal funds, including a $138,528 payment from HUD Treasury. Lear embezzled or misapplied more than $5,000 in SHA property while serving as an agent of the federally funded organization. As part of her sentence, Lear was also ordered to pay $120,358.21 in restitution. Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Shawn Rice, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by HUD-OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Mattingly Williams prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. – END –