Families react as a former CFO of Virginia’s birth injuries convicted of stealing $ 6.7 million

Richmond, Va. – A federal judge condemned a new Kent County man to nine years in prison for stealing more than $ 6.7 million from a state program that helps families whose children suffer from brain injuries during birth.

John Hunter Raines served as Financial Director of the Birth Injuries of Virginia for almost three years. The program was created to provide financial support to families whose children suffered brain injuries during birth and prevent negligence demands.

Prosecutors say that while Raines was CFO, he stole $ 6.7 million from the program to finance a luxurious lifestyle of gambling, private planes and buy gold and silver. He bought several vehicles, including eight luxury golf cars for more than $ 160,000. He also paid at least $ 29,000 to an “intimate couple” and tens of thousands of dollars to a bank account in the name of his wife.

The investigation revealed that Raines also spent more than $ 125,000 for private jet trips for his friends and family, including more than $ 34,000 to travel with his wife and friends to Nashville for three days in a private jet.

“It’s an atrocious crime and I was surprised,” said Jack Francis. Francis enrolled in the program to help his 4 -year -old son, Jackson.

Raines told the court that he suffered from gambling and alcohol addiction at that time and is now looking for help. Sometimes he looked at the families of the audience program and said he felt it.

“His comments, I mean, I listen to you, he made the best case he could in his circumstance, and I feel that it was nothing excuse,” Francis said.

Raines asked the Court a sentence below the guidelines of four to five years, while prosecutors sought more.

The judge was above that request and sentenced Raines to nine years, noting that it was not the first time that an employee of the program stole money, and that Raines tried the program as his own ATM. The judge said he wanted to send a message to others that may consider doing the same in the future.

“If things work to function as they are supposed to do so, this should have been caught a long time ago,” Francis said. “If you steal, they will launch the book or more. Which, in this case, it was more.”

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