Overview

• U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel imposed a 40-month federal prison term and ordered $690,902 in restitution.
• Joelle Fouse, 58, worked as Promise Community Homes’ finance and human resources director from October 2012 until her termination in December 2023.
• Investigators tallied 71 unauthorized payroll deposits ($139,810), 181 improper reimbursements ($407,186) and 184 personal credit-card charges ($133,210), causing about $10,694 in excess payroll taxes.
• Prosecutors said she concealed the theft with falsified reports, doctored receipts and blocked access to records while spending on travel, luxury goods, entertainment and rent.
• She pleaded guilty in April 2025 to three counts of wire fraud after an FBI investigation prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.