On September 25, 2014 the Burlington Police Department responded to the Association of Africans Living in Vermont (AALVT) in Burlington regarding a report of embezzlement. A subsequent investigation of financial activity from 2011-2014 was conducted by Detectives with the assistance of the State and Federal tax investigators. This investigation found that Francine Mbayu of Burlington had diverted the tax refunds of two victims to her own account, and retained all or portions of each refund illegally. Mbayu was the assigned caseworker for the two victims. The victim names are not being released as this would identify their private service/support needs and Mbayu is no longer employed by AALVT.
Mbayu was found to have taken approximately $34,000 from the two victims over the course of 2011-2014 and has paid back all but $5,800. Mbayu was issued a citation to appear in court to answer to the charge of Embezzlement which is punishable by imprisonment of not more than ten year, fines of not more than $10,000 or both.
