Former Bradenton housing official admits to theft

BRADENTON — Former Bradenton Housing Authority official Stephany West admitted to her role in a case where authorities say she spent dozens of hours on the clock doing non-work activities, from a massage and a movie outing to trips to Busch Gardens, Jamaica and Washington, D.C.

West, former project director at the BHA, an agency of the city of Bradenton, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of federal funds Feb. 24. She faces up to10 years in prison, in addition to a $250,000 fine.

The case, according to a plea agreement from the U.S. Attorney's office, centers around action West took from September 2010 through September 2013, when she accepted her regularly salary for hours not worked. Agencies that investigated West, through iPhone tracking, GPS tracking, SunPass data and other surveillance, include the Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the FBI. Authorities, in total, contend West stole $73,783 from the BHA by taking salary, benefits and bonuses she didn't earn and another $30,767 by cashing out unused annual sick leave.

“The surveillance revealed that West was absent from the BHA and engaged in non-BHA activities much of the time she was being paid for work at the BHA,” the plea agreement states. “West typically arrived at the BHA at least 1.5 to 2 hours late each day, took extended (usually multi-hour) lunches, ran personal errands during the work day...and typically left early from the BHA — all without taking some form of leave. One some days West failed to show up to work at all, yet she still collected payment for the BHA as if she had been at work.”

Former Bradenton Housing Authority Executive Director Wenston DeSue, not yet charged with a criminal complaint in the case, is listed in West's plea agreement and the investigation. “DeSue and West routinely were significantly absent from the BHA, engaged in non-BHA activities during work hours and failed to take annual or sick leave for these absences,” the agreement states.

Some of the time West spent on the clock but not at work, court documents allege, include:
• A visit to condos in Sarasota not connected to BHA business and a tour of luxury boats;
• 10 hours in Jamaica;
• Personal errands, including trips to several used car dealerships to help her daughter and her partner buy a vehicle;
• A massage at Massage Envy in Sarasota;
• Three trips to Busch Gardens, where photos and videos show DeSue and West entering the park and riding multiple roller coasters each day;
• A three-day trip to Washington, D.C.
• A trip to see the movie World War Z.