According to WAFF 48, a Madison County woman accused of misusing over $15,000 in federal funds had a criminal record before working for the Community Action Partnership of Huntsville and Limestone Counties, but it was not detected during her background check.

Megan Tillery, who was recently indicted on federal charges, was previously arrested in 2018 for stealing checks from an elderly patient and cashing them after the patient’s death. Despite this, she was hired by Community Action, a nonprofit responsible for distributing federal funds to low-income families through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

According to the indictment, Tillery worked for the organization for two years, during which time she was bribed by two individuals to redirect thousands of dollars in federal assistance to them via Cash App instead of distributing it to qualifying families.

Community Action officials stated they were unaware of her criminal history at the time of hiring. The organization also said that all employees undergo background checks, but Tillery’s prior arrest did not appear in their system. Since then, the organization has upgraded its background check process to be more thorough.

The investigation into Tillery’s alleged misconduct began over two years ago, and once inquiries started, she stopped showing up for work. Community Action officials said they only recently became aware of the federal indictment.

LIHEAP is a federally funded program managed by the U.S. Department of Health designed to help struggling families with home energy costs. However, the misuse of these funds can negatively impact those who rely on the program for essential services.

Tillery now faces federal charges, and legal proceedings will determine the outcome of her case.