Zoe Francis, COO, Institute Of Women & Ethnic Studies
Sentencing for (Marie) Zoe Francis, 51, is on April 8th in the New Orleans Federal Court.
A week ago, she pleaded guilty to stealing funds from her employer, the non-profit Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies (IWES).
https://www.iwesnola.org/news-blog/2019/10/29/vlcfqx8b58u7g5zolqbhvqlg4jt9fr
Page Five of Five Pages Zoe’s plea agreement dated Jan. 7th
Francis served as IWIS Chief Operations Officer from 2019 to 2024.
She had control and oversight of the organization's finances.
Zoe is facing:
up to ten years in jail
a fine of up to $250,000
forfeiture of $150,000 in personal assets
restitution to her employer of $100,000
Francis’s last salary was $211,535.
On July 7th, the judge approved a Public Defender as her legal representative based on a sealed poverty affidavit.
Francis’ stolen funds originated from annual $1 million grants from the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).
An investigation by the FBI and the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) led to Francis’s conviction.
It started two years ago.
https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/enforcement/non-profit-executive-convicted-of-theft-of-federal-funds/
A tip from an audit dated Dec. 31st, 2019, identified the theft.
Why was it released on March 1st, 2021?
The report said:
“Financial controls were non-existent.”
And that was based on an analysis of eight randomly selected checks and four deposits.
Total accounting “missstatements” on Dec. 31st, 2019, were $2,490,000.
Discrepancies remain.
Accounts remain unreconciled.
Federal grants go in, and the money went where?
Is anyone looking for it?
Why not?
Page 39 of 61 Pages
https://app.lla.la.gov/publicreports.nsf/0/22da27b20198e67a862586cc005be00a/$file/000237e7.pdf
Page 50 of 61 Pages
Page 53 of 61 Pages
The investigation stopped with Zoe Francis.
Why only her?
https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/enforcement/non-profit-executive-convicted-of-theft-of-federal-funds/
The key directors who operate and are responsible for the money of IWES are:
Dr. Denese Shervington, MD, MPH, is President & CEO and founded the NGO in 1993.
She is the Chair of Psychiatry at Charles R. Drew University.
Ava Roger, Secretary, served as Co-Executive Director.
She has 20 years of experience working for the United Nations and the State Department.
Michele M. Moore, Board Chair, is Chief Communications Officer for the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union).
She also served as V.P. of Global Communications for the Ford Foundation.
Kandice Doley, Treasurer, works for the National Association of Women Judges, can’t read a balance sheet, and has no experience maintaining the financial records of a four-million-dollar organization.
Dr. Stephani Hatch, Board Member, is a Professor of Sociology at King’s College London, England, and promotes diversity, equality, and inclusion.
Dr. Erica Gollub, Board Member, is a professor at Pace University in New York, lives there, and specializes in HIV research.
Dr. Dorothy Peprah, Board Member, continues to serve as Senior Global Health Security Agenda Advisor for USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development), which was allegedly closed down last year.
Jacqueline Coleman, Board Member, is the Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky.
Updated Nov. 9th
Francis was sentenced to THREE YEARS' PROBATION and home detention.
At $500 a month, it will take Zoe over 33 years to repay her $201,276.07 restitution.
The story was covered up.
Only NakedTruth.news reported it.
Page Four of Four Pages dated Nov. 5th, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70621055/united-states-v-francis/
Justice Department press release dated June 25th on Zoe Francis’ theft of federal funds
Inspector General’s Reports of Zoe Francis case
https://search.usa.gov/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=zoe+francis&affiliate=hhs_oig
61-page audit report for the year ending Dec. 31st, 2019 of the Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies
https://app.lla.la.gov/publicreports.nsf/0/22da27b20198e67a862586cc005be00a/$file/000237e7.pdf
According to its most recent tax filing in 2025, the Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies has maintained:
its tax-deductible status as an NGO (non-governmental organization)
received $25,451,833 in federal grants
$2,262,192 in 2025 from Health & Human Services (HHS)
liabilities exceeded assets from the prior year by $1,586,512
Page 15 of 31 Pages
https://docs.candid.org/990/721/721244155/721244155_2025_202632369349301323_990.pdf
The nonprofit filed its most recent tax return, dated 2025, on Aug. 24th.