NEW YORK CITY—Derek Broomes, 72, the former president and CEO ofHarlem Congregations for Community Improvement, a non-profithousing organization, on Monday pled guilty in federal court to onecount of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from afederally funded program. The crime carries a maximum penalty of 10years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the grossgain or loss resulting from the offense. Broome agreed to pay back$203,408.80 plus further restitution.

Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement is a faith-based,non-profit organization that develops and provides low-incomehousing in Harlem. In 2002, Broomes became the CFO and in 2011, hebecame the president and CEO. Prior to working at HCCI, Broomesworked as a deputy commissioner in New York City's Human ResourcesAdministration and for three years at the city's Department ofInvestigations as the deputy inspector general and aninvestigator.

Since 1999, HCCI participated in the federally funded ScatteredSite Housing Program, in which it received federal dollars tosubsidize rents for low-income people with HIV and AIDS. Theprogram rules require organizations keep SSHP funds in separateaccounts used exclusively for program costs. During 2014 and 2015,HCCI received more than $3 million in SSHP funds.