Darrell Devonish, a 53-year-old man from New York City, has been sentenced to over three years in federal prison for stealing money meant to feed children and adults in need. On May 8, 2025, United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson sentenced Devonish to 41 months behind bars for wire fraud and money laundering.
Devonish was the head of a non-profit group called Rebuilding Better Communities. From 2017 to 2019, the organization applied for and received over $1 million in federal funds through food programs managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. These programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), were created to make sure children and low-income adults have access to meals.
But instead of using the money to help people, Devonish used it for himself.
How the Money Was Misused
Between February 2017 and August 2019, Devonish’s organization received a total of $1,074,328.45. Investigators discovered that he took nearly $900,000 of that money for personal expenses. These were some of the things he spent the stolen money on:
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- More than $175,000 on jewelry
- Over $45,000 on luxury vehicles, including a 2015 Mercedes S550 and a 2018 Jeep Wrangler
- More than $75,000 on clothing and cosmetics
- About $12,000 on liquor
- Over $100,000 on entertainment, travel, and dining, including international trips
- More than $220,000 in cash withdrawn from ATMs
Instead of buying food for children and families in need, Devonish used the government money to live a high-end lifestyle. This included expensive shopping, vacations, and luxury cars — all funded by money meant for public assistance.
Sentence, Restitution, and Government Response
The case was thoroughly investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General. Special Agent-in-Charge Charmeka Parker emphasized that the USDA is committed to protecting programs like CACFP and SFSP from fraud and abuse. These programs exist to serve vulnerable communities, and any misuse of their funds is taken seriously.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David C. Williams and Samuel S. Dalke prosecuted the case, presenting the evidence that led to Devonish’s conviction.
In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Wilson ordered Devonish to repay $883,518.33 in restitution. This amount reflects the funds he used for personal benefit instead of providing meals to those in need.
The sentence serves as a strong reminder that misuse of federal aid programs will not go unnoticed. Fraud not only breaks the law but also harms the people those programs are meant to help.
