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FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The former director of the Fairfield Housing Authority, who lives in Ridgefield, has pleaded not guilty in the embezzlement of $30,000 from the authority, according to U.S. Attorney David Fein.
Elizabeth Jo Gutierrez, 47, headed the authority from July 2010 to December 2011. The agency, which is not part of Fairfield’s town government, runs federal programs that promote affordable housing within Fairfield.
While head of the organization Gutierrez wrote two checks worth $15,000 each from the authority’s account and deposited them in her own, according to an indictment returned by a federal grand jury last week. She has been charged with one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and faces up to 10 years in prison.
Gutierrez was released after posting a $50,000 bond Friday.
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