News (USA)

Head of N.Y. LGBT center sentenced to 2-6 years in prison for embezzlement

Head of N.Y. LGBT center sentenced to 2-6 years in prison for embezzlement

The former head of a New York LGBT community center has been sentenced to at least two years in prison for embezzling more than $300,000 from the organization.

Lisa Winters pleaded guilty to second-degree larceny on Feb. 14, in connection with the theft of $338,000 between 2005 and 2009 from the Bronx Community Pride Center.

Lisa Winters

Winters was led away in handcuffs on Monday after Bronx Supreme Court Justice Martin Marcus signed off a deal that’ll keep her locked up for two to six years, reported The New York Post.

Investigators said Winters used the money to pay for domestic and international travel, clothes, liquor, groceries and her dog walker. Among the expenses were $25,000 on a month-long trip to South Africa with her future-wife Eileen Scroggins in July 2007.

“I’m so sorry to all the people that I hurt,” Winters said through a flood of tears. “I’m so sorry for all the harm I caused.”

The Bronx Community Pride Center closed this past summer after 16 years of operation. Board members cited “economic difficulties, past debt and inability to raise” funds in the decision to close the center.

Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

GLAAD to honor Bill Clinton as ‘Advocate for Change’ on LGBT rights

Previous article

Nominee with anti-gay record confirmed to N.C. state Board of Education

Next article