WACO, Texas — DeAdra Johnson, 52, of Austin, was charged with nine counts of theft of government property and one count of false statement Friday, according to news release from the U.S. Attorney General's Office.
Johnson made her initial court appearance in the Western District of Texas federal court in Waco on Jan. 19.
If found guilty, she faces up to 10 years in prison for each theft and up to five years for giving a false statement.
Court documents reveal Johnson is accused of mishandling thousands of dollars designated for KHA programs. The federal charge shows the funds were used for various personal expenses, including down payments on vehicles, vehicle repairs, loan payments, monthly rent, utility bills, home furniture purchases, and even a flight for personal travel.
KHA, which managed more than 50 public housing residential units and facilitated housing programs for low-income families, had an annual contract with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This contract provided financial assistance from the federal government annually, reports say.
Johnson's sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge.
When Jean Tucker, a resident in Killeen who lives in section eight housing, heard the news she said she felt like she was getting answers.
"If I had been somewhere not driving I would have jumped up and down," Tucker added.
This news gave her a possible reason as to why her section 8 housing has not been paid for by the Killeen Housing Authority.
It was back in October of 2023 that Tucker reached out to 6 News. She realized half of her rent wasn't being paid and that's the half the housing authority was responsible for.
"Their checks were bouncing," Tucker said.
After trying to figure out why this was happening she needed help from the news.
The housing authority said at the time they would work to figure things out and hand over necessary documentation to another organization in order to help get people their rent money.
Tucker said she still doesn't have her money but at least she has an idea of where it might be.
"She (DeAdra) needs to go to the pen...that's exactly what she needs to do."
6 News will update with the latest.