Former Houston MO chamber director accused of stealing more than $25,000

HOUSTON, Mo. — The former director of the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce has been arrested for charges of stealing more than $25,000, forgery and receiving stolen property.

According to court documents, Angela Quinlan, 54, is accused of misappropriating funds for her personal benefit from 2018 to 2022. These funds were at least $100,000 being held in two separate bank accounts from two different banks listed as belonging to the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce.

During the investigation, in 2021, a check was made for $40,000 to the Chamber from Quinlan’s relative. The check was a loan to the Chamber for repairs to air conditioning units after they had been stolen. The money for the loan has not been accounted for and board members were unaware the loan even existed.

A loan agreement document was given to investigators and had a signature of approval from the Chamber’s board president at the time. The Chamber president told police he would “Never approve such a request because the stolen air conditioners … were being replaced by the insurance company and a loan was not necessary,” according to the probable cause statement.

In 2020, police believe Quinlan, acting as the Houston Area Chamber, received a $25,900 COVID Relief Fund loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA). The money is also not accounted for.

Former and current board members have stated they were unaware of the loan from SBA until the SBA sent a letter requesting payments to be made.

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