Housing Authority Financial Chief Guilty; Money Went for Mansion, Fancy Cars

[Louisiana1976]

Elias Castellanos, a Florida contractor hired by the Housing Authority of New Orleans to oversee its finances, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal district court to stealing nearly $1 million from the beleaguered agency.

Castellanos, who spent two years as HANO's chief financial officer, faces up to 10 years in prison in addition to fines, restitution and three years of subsequent parole.

Castellanos' theft "violated the public trust in the worst way, " by taking from the city's "most vulnerable citizens, those in public housing, " U.S. District Attorney Jim Letten said after the arraignment.

Letten's office last month charged Castellanos with embezzling the money over three years. During the same time period, the indictment noted, Castellanos had bought a $1.6 million mansion in Davie, Fla., just north of Miami, and five high-end cars -- a Lamborghini Gallardo worth more than $200,000, a Ferrari F430, a Porsche 911 and two Mercedes-Benzes.

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more...
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2009/09/hano_financial_chief_guilty_st.html

[KittyWampus]

1. Wonder who he is connected to. How handy, hire someone to do that job who is totally corrupt

and screw over people who've been badly hurt by various forces.

[JDPriestly]

2. Castellanos was hired about three years ago.

Who would have hired him? At whose recommendation?