Prosecutors intend to seek a longer sentence than called for under the state guidelines if they obtain a conviction against a man charged on Friday with embezzling more than a quarter-million dollars from the Dakota County Community Development Authority.
Vangyee Leng Yang, 39, a computer software coordinator with the authority, was charged with five counts of theft by swindle between April 1, 2016, and May 31 of this year.
He's accused of embezzling $271,325 by diverting housing assistance checks to phony accounts he created on behalf of clients who were deceased, no longer eligible for assistance, or were not current CDA clients.
Under state guidelines, a conviction calls for up to 20 years in prison and fines from $6,000 to $100,000.
Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom said Monday that prosecutors will ask for a harsher sentence because the alleged theft involved multiple incidents and because the loss was "far greater than the minimum loss specified in the statute." Also, he said, the offense involved a high degree of sophistication and planning and occurred over a lengthy period of time — two years.
Yang could not be reached for comment, and it's unclear whether he has an attorney. His whereabouts is unknown.
The agency distributes about $1.6 million in housing assistance to approximately 2,600 households each month.
In conducting the embezzlement, the police complaint states, Yang had funds issued to two property-management companies he registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State and had the checks sent to him at his home address in Fridley, a post office box in Eagan and a mailbox at a UPS store in Brooklyn Center.
