Former chamber director charged in patrol investigation

The former director of the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce has been charged with stealing more than $25,000, forgery and receiving stolen property, authorities said Wednesday afternoon.

Angela R. Quinlan, born in 1970, was charged following a Missouri State Highway Patrol investigation that began in October 2022.

According to the state patrol, Quinlan is alleged to have “misappropriated for her personal benefit, at multiple other businesses, at least $100,000 of funds apparently belonging to the chamber and being held in chamber bank accounts in Texas County.”

Quinlan resigned as the chamber director in June 2022 after serving since 2016.

According to a state patrol statement filed with the Texas County prosecutor on Jan. 31, 2024, “While the dollar amount is currently at least $100,000, it is anticipated to increase substantially as a large volume of financial records are still being analyzed.”

Quinlan’s mother filed a lawsuit against the chamber in January 2023 alleging a $40,000 loan in 2021 to replace stolen air conditioning units at the fairgrounds was never repaid. The patrol alleges the funds haven’t been accounted for by it and a former chamber president says he thought the loss would be covered by insurance and denies his signature is authentic on the loan documents. The lawsuit is set for trial in January.

The patrol says a Small Business Administration COVID relief funds loan totaling $25,900 can’t be located. Former and current chamber board members told the patrol they became aware of it when a repayment letter was received in October 2022.

Quinlan posted the $3,000 cash only bond Wednesday, July 3.

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