Ex-Portland foster care provider accused of embezzlement

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The executive director of a now-closed Portland foster care agency has been indicted on charges she embezzled more than $800,000 from the nonprofit.

The federal grand jury indictment says 56-year-old Mary Holden Ayala spent ill-gotten gains on travel, beauty, luxury goods, mortgage payments, a home-remodeling project and a commercial property.

Justice officials have been investigating Ayala for several years. She ran Give Us This Day, a state-licensed agency that handled hard-to-place foster kids before closing in 2015.

The Oregon Department of Justice filed a lawsuit that year accusing her of misspending at least $2 million in state funds to the detriment of the children in her care.

FBI agents arrested her Tuesday in Mississippi and she remains in custody there pending a detention hearing. She’s charged with theft, money laundering and filing false tax returns.