FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boston, Massachusetts - On April 29, 2025, U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Inspector General (USAID OIG) Special Agents arrested a former project director of a North Carolina-based non-profit organization (“Company 1”), which regularly implements projects funded by USAID on a federal indictment alleging she defrauded Company 1 of approximately $240,000.
Ruth Chisina Mufute of Zimbabwe is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. As alleged in the indictment, from June 2014 through May 2023 while working on a USAID cooperative agreement in South Africa, Mufute fraudulently claimed that she was entitled to housing allowance benefits from Company 1 by falsely representing that she was renting a house in South Africa that she actually owned. Based on Mufute’s alleged misrepresentations, Company 1 disbursed USAID funds to Mufute to reimburse her for rent and housing-related expenses. To support her claims to Company 1, Mufute allegedly created fake documents and fabricated electronic communications with a fictitious person.
“USAID OIG remains steadfast in its mission to protect U.S. taxpayer-funded foreign assistance from fraud and abuse,” said USAID OIG Acting Special Agent in Charge Nyema Morais. “This investigation highlights the importance of our continued vigilance to ensure that bad actors who try to defraud U.S. government-funded programs, regardless of where they are in the world, are held accountable.”
USAID OIG’s mission is to safeguard and strengthen U.S. foreign assistance through timely, relevant, and impactful oversight, including investigations and audits. OIG promotes the integrity and accountability of organizations receiving U.S. foreign assistance by pursuing allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse, and by educating agency and implementer staff on fraud schemes and how to mitigate them.
We are grateful to the DOJ Criminal Division, Fraud Section, for their steadfast support and ongoing partnership. Their collaboration has been vital to the success of this important work.
To learn more about USAID OIG’s investigative work, please visit the investigations page. Please contact OIGLegAffairs@oig.usaid.gov for press inquiries.