Community Development Director Illegally Obtained Funds Related to Youth Violence Prevention Program: Officials

Lovett’s corporation was responsible for seeking reimbursement from the trust for services within the neighborhood

The director of a community development corporation was arrested Friday after officials said he fraudulently obtained trust funds intended for partners in a program to prevent youth violence.

Larrie Lovett, 48, faces charges including second-degree grand theft and organized fraud, according to online jail records. It wasn’t immediately known if he has an attorney.

As director of the Brownsville Community Development Corporation, Lovett had complete financial control of funds, including access to business checks, the ATM card and the debit card, the Miami-Dade Office of the Mayor said.

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In 2007, the BCDC, the lead agency for the Brownsville-Liberty City neighborhood, was granted a trust contract as part of an initiative to prevent youth-involved violent crime. Lovett’s corporation was responsible for seeking reimbursement from the trust for services within the neighborhood.

An investigation revealed Lovett fraudulently obtained over $112,000 from trust funds by submitting false invoices or proof of payments to The Children’s Trust, according to officials. He also failed to forward full payments to partners, according to the investigation.

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The trust is funded through Miami-Dade property taxes. Investigators said they traced money he allegedly obtained illegally to a trip to Chicago on behalf of the church he ministers, a trip to Los Angeles, a rent payment and a car payment.

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