HIV agency director who stole city funds is sentenced

The former director of a defunct Philadelphia HIV service agency who was charged with helping to steal $130,000 in city funds for the agency was sentenced last week to six months under house arrest, Philadelphia Gay News reports. Tyrone Smith, the former director of Unity Inc.--which aimed to help transgendered youth avoid HIV infection--who was also a former adviser to Philadelphia mayor John Street, was also sentenced to 54 months' probation once his house-arrest sentence ends and was ordered to pay $130,000 in restitution to the city at the rate of $200 per month. Smith could have been sentenced to up to 21 months in federal prison for his role in stealing the money from the agency. Two other Philadelphia residents have been charged with participating in the theft. Joseph L. Lewis Jr. was sentenced last month to 30 months in federal prison; Janis P. Moore is awaiting sentencing for her role in the theft.