Nonprofit co-founder faces federal charge after Richmond gave nearly $1M to run now-closed homeless shelter

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The co-founder of a Richmond nonprofit faces a federal wire fraud charge after the city gave her organization nearly $1 million to run a now-closed inclement weather shelter for women and children.

Richmond's inclement shelters dwindle from a few to only one

The city of Richmond sponsors only one homeless shelter -- the Salvation Army Inclement Weather Shelter, located at 1900 Sledd St., which also features a resource center at 1900 Chamberlayne Ave.

Prior to this, the city sponsored two inclement weather shelters -- one for men at United Nations Church, located at 1901 Wall St., and another designated for women and children operated by RVA Sisters Keeper, located at 2807 Hull St.

Now, the co-founder of RVA Sisters Keeper, Kia Player, is facing a federal wire fraud charge and accusations of forged invoices and embezzlement after the city gave her organization nearly $1 million in taxpayer money to operate the now-shuttered shelter.

The federal case was filed on Oct. 20, 2025.

Registration of the nonprofit

On July 26, 2022, the City of Richmond announced that funds were available for an inclement weather shelter where people experiencing homelessness could stay during cold weather. The money came from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Organizations were invited to apply, and could ask for up to $3 million, with applications due by Aug. 25, 2022.

On Aug. 25, 2022, Player applied for the funds, in which she proposed to build an inclement weather shelter in Richmond focused on women and children under an organization that was not registered with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), effectively meaning the organization did not yet exist.

She said in the application that the shelter would be known as "Project 2807" under the proposed nonprofit name of "RVA Sisters Keeper," which she then registered as a nonprofit alongside another person with the Virginia SCC days later, on Aug. 29, 2022.

Court documents said that the organization began operating in Richmond in October 2022 and continued through April 2023. The nonprofit provided up to 40 beds for women and children, nightly dinners and grab-and-go breakfasts.

In December 2022, the Richmond City Council allocated $908,422 for the inclement weather shelter run by RVA Sisters Keeper.

From 2022 through 2023, court documents said RVA Sisters Keeper received at least $995,444 in government funds from HUD and the City of Richmond.

Court documents alleged that Player falsified invoices sent to the city, spent funds on personal expenses and concealed the improper use of funds that were supposed to go to the nonprofit.

Alleged false invoices

According to a criminal complaint filed in the Eastern District Court of Virginia, Player allegedly made "at least 35 falsified invoices" that purported to show costs paid for the operation of her nonprofit's inclement weather shelter.

Of these allegedly falsified invoices, court documents said that at least 21 of them were for breakfasts and dinners provided at the shelter by a business called "VCM Catering Service," which did not exist.

According to court documents, Player was actually paying $4,000 to her mother, who worked as a cafeteria manager for a Richmond public school, to provide food at the shelter. On occasion, her mother allegedly took food from the school's cafeteria -- which was paid for with public funds -- to be provided at the shelter.

Fake invoices sent to Richmond for the non-existent catering service led to the city giving the nonprofit at least $170,869 in reimbursement.

Player also forged a document purporting to have paid Moizelles Cleaners, a laundry company, for wash and fold services, at least 10 times, when in reality, the service was used only three times, court documents said.

Though the nonprofit only paid $2,021 for the actual laundry services, the city reimbursed it for at least $10,120.

In addition, court documents said Player falsified a document stating that the organization paid Go-Forth Pest Control $1,500 for bed bug treatment. In reality, the company never provided services for the nonprofit. The city reimbursed the organization for that $1,500.

Player also allegedly fabricated at least 10 invoices from Evelyn's Cleaning, LLC, that falsely stated the organization paid the cleaning company $150 per day for cleaning from February through April 2023.

According to court records, the organization only used the cleaning company's services once, paying the company about $405. Nonprofit staff were reportedly primarily responsible for cleaning the facilities. After the fabricated invoices were submitted, the city reimbursed the nonprofit for $10,500 for nonexistent cleaning services.

Player also allegedly fabricated an invoice from Eddy's Painting, LLC, a contractor company, which purported to show that the nonprofit paid the company $47,975 for multiple construction projects.

Many of those construction projects were reportedly never done, including repairs to the shelter's roof, upgrades to the shelter's plumbing and shower, and the installation of lighting outside of the building.

In fact, at all times that the nonprofit was operating, court documents state that the shelter's roof leaked.

After submitting a false invoice for the construction projects, the city reimbursed the nonprofit for at least $47,975, according to court documents.

Alleged funneling of funds into own corporation

Court documents state that Player funneled $25,000 in fraudulently obtained funds from the nonprofit to MH Resource Solutions, LLC, a corporation that Player owns. Afterward, Player transferred $20,950 of those fraudulent funds from the corporation to Player's bank account, which she reportedly co-owned with her mother.

Player did not disclose to the city that she owned the corporation, according to court documents. After subtracting the salary Player was entitled to receive, which was disclosed on invoices shared with the city, she allegedly funneled at least $68,893 of fraudulent funds from the nonprofit to other accounts she controls.

According to court documents, Player used the fraudulent funds for various personal spending, including the following:

• $403 at River City Tattoo for a tattoo
• $663 with United Airlines, $635 with TAP Air Portugal and $163 with American Airlines on various flights
• $450 on a Caribbean ferry ride in Miami Beach, Florida
• $2,750 over at least six different times for veterinary services
• $609 at West End Antique Mall
• $1,831 on three different occasions at Anthropologie, a clothing store
• $1,789 at furniture stores across three separate transactions
• $199 at a restaurant in Miami Beach, Florida

In all, court documents claim Player and co-conspirators caused the loss of at least $199,163 from HUD and Richmond.

Player's next court appearance in the federal case is slated for 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 18.

Foster Curtiss, Richmond's interim inspector general, confirmed that his office was investigating RVA Sisters Keeper.

8News has reached out to Player's legal team for comment.