Former Manager of Contracted City Meal Program for HIV/AIDS Patients Pleads Guilty to Theft

PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Barbara Conway, 62, of Drexel Hill, PA, entered a plea of guilty before United States District Court Judge Michael M. Baylson for stealing money from a meal program for sick and needy individuals which she managed as a contractor for the City of Philadelphia.

In November 2020, the defendant was charged by criminal information with theft from a program receiving federal funds. According to the Information, Conway served as the Food Voucher Coordinator while employed by the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation (PHMC), a public health agency contracted with the City of Philadelphia to administer a food voucher program funded by the federal government. While serving as the coordinator from 2015 through 2019, Conway stole over $35,000 in food vouchers that were supposed to be distributed as part of an emergency assistance package to people living with HIV/AIDS. This initiative is funded by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, a federal program that provides grants to states, cities, counties, and other local organizations to fund care and treatment services for individuals living with the disease.

“Stealing money from federally-funded programs will be met with swift and serious consequences,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “Appallingly, Barbara Conway victimized people who are already facing the incredibly challenging life circumstance of living with HIV/AIDS and who require emergency assistance to meet basic life necessities while they bravely fight to get well. Our Office will continue to hold public employees and contractors responsible for this type of egregious behavior.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Philadelphia Office of the Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard P. Barrett.