The former executive director of the Bradenton Housing Authority has pleaded guilty to theft of federal funds.
Wenston DeSue, 44, of Bradenton, is facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. DeSue worked as the agency's executive director from January 2006 to September 2013.
The BHA is a local agency that receives more than $10,000 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
According to the plea agreement, between September 2010 and September 2013, DeSue was significantly absent from the BHS on a routine basis, engaged in non-BHA activity during work hour, and failed to take annual or sick leave for those absences.
Investigators said he accepted his regular salary despite being absent from BHA for much of the time. They said he typically arrived between one and a half to three hours late each day, took extended lunches, ran personal errands during the day and then left early.
In addition, investigators said DeSue spent personal time with BHA Project Director, Stephany West, with whom he had a romantic relationship. Officials said the two spent time together during the workday when they should have been working or on some form of leave.
Officials said that on some days, DeSue failed to show up for work at all, yet still collected payment from the BHA as if he had been at work.
Officials said he was absent or engaged in non-BHA activities at least 30 percent of the time between September 2010 and September 2012. They said he engaged in the same behavior about 60 percent of the time from September 2012 through September 2013.
Investigators said that DeSue ultimately stole over than $200,000 by taking salary, benefits and bonuses that he had not earned, and that he stole another $71,000 by cashing out unused annual and sick leave, which he should have used in lieu of conducting personal business during work hours.
West has already pleaded guilty to theft of federal funds in March, and she is currently awaiting sentencing.