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Former Head of New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce Sentenced for Grand Larceny

The former head of the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce (NORBCC), Jeffrey Hunt, was sentenced on Monday to a prison term of between 20 months and five years for grand larceny. This comes after Hunt pleaded guilty in July last year to stealing approximately $47,000 from the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce during his tenure as president and CEO from 2016 to 2020.

Hunt’s method of theft involved charging personal expenses, such as clothing, trips, and dinners, and misrepresenting them as business expenses. The Columbia County District Attorney’s office confirmed the fraudulent activities.

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“Mr. Hunt violated the public’s trust by stealing community funds to cover his personal expenses and has now been held accountable for his crimes,” stated Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Ryan Carty in a news release.

Hunt was sentenced to a period of 20 to 60 months for the class D felony by Columbia County Court Judge Jonathan Nichols. He will serve this sentence in the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. It’s worth noting that New York’s sentencing system allows for indeterminate sentences, meaning inmates can potentially earn time off for good behavior and early release under supervision.

A Short Stay

Hunt, who did not respond to a request for comment, was fired from NORBCC just four months after assuming the role of executive director in April 2022.

Although the reason for his termination was never officially disclosed by NORBCC, Hunt claimed that he was told it was because he failed to provide a truthful account of his previous employment, where he was fired in November 2021 due to questionable charges.

Hunt stated that he informed NORBCC about an ongoing investigation into “financial irregularities” but was limited in disclosing further details due to a non-disclosure agreement. However, the lawyer representing the Columbia County Chamber denied the existence of such an agreement.

Judge Nichols has ordered that Hunt make restitution for the full amount of stolen money. So far, Hunt has returned approximately $12,000, according to the district attorney’s statement.

Turnover at the Top

Hunt filed a civil lawsuit against NORBCC in New Orleans in September, alleging unfair termination. He claimed that the real reason behind his firing was his role as a whistleblower, exposing financial irregularities within NORBCC.

The lawsuit is ongoing, according to Jessica Vasquez, providing further legal complications for NORBCC.

Jeffrey Hunt’s misconduct poses a setback for the NORBCC board, which had anticipated greater stability with an experienced chamber executive at the helm. Prior to Hunt’s appointment, the agency had experienced frequent turnover, with three executive directors in as many years. The position of executive director at NORBCC still remains unfilled permanently.

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