CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Since the deadly 2016 West Virginia floods, volunteer organizations active in disaster has been critically important in helping victims recover from the record-setting high water.

West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster is a nonprofit association of independent organizations dealing with all phases of disaster.

In 2018, the group became the state's primary house and bridge builder for the Rise West Virginia Flood Recovery Program.

However, earlier this year VOAD was hit with a major financial blow and there are now troubling questions about its leadership.

In May the chief financial officer for the organization admitted that starting in 2020, he stole more than $870,000 from the non-profit over a two-and-a-half year period.

Thirty-year-old Benjamin Cisco had control over VOAD's finances, transferring money from debit cards to his personal account, buying gift cards and obtaining improper mileage reimbursements.

Cisco was scheduled to be sentenced last week, however his case was re-assigned to a different judge and the new date is now set for November.

Sources have provided Eyewitness News with documents, text messages, recordings and receipts indicating VOAD's financial troubles continue. The allegations center largely on long-time executive director Jenny Gannaway.

Gannaway was placed on leave by VOAD's board in August, 2022 after allegations about possible misconduct were raised. Following an investigation she was reinstated by the board of directors in early September, 2022.

Just days later, on Sept. 19, 2022, a letter from Charleston attorney Scott Evans on behalf of the non-profit's employee Tyler Hager, sent to VOAD counsel Gabriele Wohl with Bowles Rice, reiterated some of those accusations.

In statements provided to Eyewitness News, both Gannaway and VOAD Board Chair Kim Tieman strongly deny any wrongdoing beyond Cisco's embezzlement.

The attorney's letter is framed by Hager's pending termination, which was scheduled for the end of September, 2022 because the West Virginia Housing Restoration Program Grant funding his position was closing.

Hager's lawyer argued that since his hiring in 2020, Hager had been elevated to a core VOAD employee not subject to grant funding and that the real reason for his layoff was that Hager had turned whistleblower and had complained to Cisco about Gannaway's personal misuse and misconduct related to VOAD finances.

The letter alleges on March 4, 2022 Gannaway instructed Hager to take multiple items donated by Good360 from the VOAD warehouse to her home in Roanoke, Virginia and to the homes of family members in Roanoke.

The directions are outlined in these alleged texts from Gannaway to Hager:

Gannaway: You busy next Saturday. Friday and Saturday

Hager: Not that I know of, I believe I'll be free.

Gannaway: Would you want to bring my fire pit and other things I need to Roanoke for me. And put it together.

Hager: Yeah I sure will

Gannaway: Ok, let's talk on Monday

Hager: Ok that sounds good

Eyewitness News spoke with Good360 director Damian Morales at a recent VOAD conference in South Charleston.

“Good360 works with more than 400 corporate partners and 100,000 non-profits. This is our 40th year in existence. We act as a facilitator between donors who want to donate and non-profits who have a need to close the need gap,” Morales said.

While unaware of the allegations against Gannaway, Morales discussed Good360's efforts to make sure donated items get to the people who need them.

Obviously there's always going to be something that comes up but we have a really stringent compliance process, from everything from putting trackers on donations to just having these types of conversations with the non-profit partners. We did over $2.5 billion worth of goods and we work with some of the world's largest corporations so that they trust us. We take that trust very seriously.

In another text message, Gannaway instructed Hager about what to put on the truck that was headed to her home in Roanoke and to homes of family members in the area. She referenced a seven-piece outdoor patio set which had been donated by Good360 from Lowe's:

Gannaway: Put one of these on the trailer, too

Hager: Ok will do

Gannaway: I need 10 flower pots and 6 ottomans

Hager: Sounds good, I'll get it

Hager: You're all packed and ready to go

The items Hager was told to deliver included 10 flowerpots valued at $799.80, six ottomans valued at $888, three tables valued at $1,494, six boxes of chairs valued at $2,388 and three fire pits valued at $2,094.

“Trust is really the epitome of all that, not only we as Good360 do but we as a non-profit sector as a whole do. It's what keeps up healthy. It's what keeps up sustainable,” Morales explained. “After a disaster, whether in West Virginia, California, Türkiye, you've lost everything after disaster. That's when humanity is at its most vulnerable. Knowing and trusting that the nonprofit partners that are going be there for you have your best interests at heart and in mind is really what matters the most. We take that very seriously at Good360.”

Hager's statement in the letter also contains claims Hager used a VOAD-owned truck, trailer and fuel card to deliver the items, as instructed by Gannaway.

On April 27, 2022, the letter claims Gannaway instructed Hager to purchase a new toilet from Lowe's in South Charleston for Gannaway's daughter using VOAD's account. After buying the toilet the letter said Hager loaded it into Gannaway's vehicle.

Gannaway: Get this one

Hager: Will do

Gannaway: Thank you

Hager: No problem

On May 21, 2022, the letter said Gannaway asked Hager for a picture of a new LG Smart Wi-fi refrigerator housed in the VOAD warehouse valued at $4,099.

In a statement, Hager said he worked from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. to take the refrigerator from the VOAD warehouse to Gannaway's Roanoke home. He said he installed the refrigerator and moved the old one to the basement. Hager said the errand was on VOAD time and he used a company truck and fuel card.

On May 25, Gannaway asked Hager for a picture of the refrigerator. Upon receiving a photo, Gannaway asked if Hager turned the water on for the new appliance.

Hager's statement also states that in August, he packed items at Gannaway's Matewan home to take to Roanoke, once again using a VOAD truck and fuel card and being paid on company time.

Hager said Gannaway's brother, Joey Crum, was assisting and was also on company time. Hager made a note that Gannaway mentioned to him on the phone and she didn't want anyone to know what the men were doing on company time.

Hager's attorney asked VOAD for $230,000 as a settlement agreement. Hager was terminated from the company on Sept. 30, 2022 without receiving a settlement. To date a lawsuit has not been filed against VOAD.

Just two days after the letter was sent electronically on Sept. 19, 2022, Gannaway filled out an Excess Policy Application, asking for Employment Practices Liability Insurance.

A question on that application to Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America asks if anyone connected to the request has any knowledge or information of any fact, circumstance or situation which could reasonably give rise to a claim that would fall within the scope of the proposed insurance.

Gannaway checked the "NO" box, signing and dating the document on Sept. 21, 2022.

Eyewitness News was told by both Gannaway and VOAD Board Chair Kim Tieman that they would sit down and answer our questions on camera.

However, they did not follow through with an interview. Instead, Tiemen requested that our questions be submitted in writing.

Eyewitness News emailed both West Virginia VOAD Executive Director Jenny Gannaway and Board Chair Kim Tieman 30 questions.

Gannaway sent Eyewitness News the following response:

I am aware of the questions you sent to our board chair and the statement sent back to you from our Board of Directors. Please know the information you have been given is false and inaccurate. The statement sent to you from the Board of Directors is my statement also.

Tieman also responded:

The Board of Directors of the West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster has met and vehemently disputes the facts, implications and conclusions in your questions. Your source(s) are promoting false and misleading narratives and, in discussing individual case management files, are violating confidentiality restrictions imposed by law.

Your questions touch on several issues that the Board referred to the FBI for investigation. That investigation resulted in the felony prosecution of WV VOAD’s former chief financial officer. That individual pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $871,288.34 from our organization and will be sentenced on Oct. 18. To the extent you believe it is in the public interest to shine a light on wrongdoing at WV VOAD, we suggest that you focus on his admitted fraud scheme instead of promoting false narratives.

Over the past few years, WV VOAD has received millions of dollars in public funding.

In 2019, the organization was paid $1 million from Gov. Jim Justice's Office. It has also received more than $1.6 million from the West Virginia Legislature through the state Division of Emergency Management, more than $18.7 million in federal dollars through the West Virginia Department of Economic Development and $50,000 from the Kanawha County Commission.

On June 22 of this year, the West Virginia Board of Risk and Insurance Management awarded the organization $874,000 for a claim tied to money Cisco stole.

Since the Governor's Office sent VOAD $1 million four years ago, the administration has not budgeted any additional funds. Gov. Justice's Chief of Staff Brian Abraham addressed that issue:

About that time when it was ready to do budget we were approached by the law firm representing VOAD and they indicated to us they were conducting audits, that it appeared some money had gone missing. As an abundance of caution we decided not to invest more until we got a clear picture of what had transpired. Certainly, if they'd come to us in an emergency situation the Governor's Contingency Fund can be used for those kinds of things but rather than just send budgeted money we just decided to play it safe and wait.

Abraham said any damage to VOAD would be a devastating blow to many people who count on the non-profit agency in their darkest hours.

They've been there when people in the state need them. They've been a real gem, an asset to the state. It's sad to see, you know, things that go on in organizations where people do things they're not supposed to do. I wouldn't say that corrupts the organization as an entity because each person is responsible for their own actions. Clearly they're a great organization and we hope that they can get through this and the wrongdoers are punished and those that haven't are still an effective partner for us.

Both the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI declined to comment if there was an active investigation into VOAD’s finances.

The nonprofit's former chief financial officer Benjamin Cisco's new sentencing date is set for Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. at the Byrd Federal Courthouse in Charleston.

Cisco faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $500,000 fine. Cisco also has to pay $871,000 in restitution.

Eyewitness News will continue looking into this situation and will produce more stories as they are warranted.