The president of a non-profit has been accused of stealing state funds from homeless shelters to grow his $22 million real-estate empire

• A homeless shelter president is accused of stealing $1.5 million in state funds, The Boston Globe first reported.
• Prosecutors claim Manuel Duran rented out his own properties as shelters and overcharged rent.
• Duran used the stolen shelter funds to expand his $22 million real-estate empire, the lawsuit says.

A lawsuit filed by the state of Massachusetts on Monday accuses Manuel Duran, the longtime president of Casa Nueva Vida homeless shelters in Boston, of stealing state funds to grow a real-estate empire worth $22 million.

The lawsuit alleges that, in an elaborate scheme, Duran rented out multiple personal properties as shelters while overcharging the charity at least $1.5 million in rent. He is also accused of lying under oath.

Duran then used the state funds to finance expensive loans put toward renovations, the lawsuit claims, allowing Duran to sell real estate holdings for "substantial profit."

Duran's attorney, Thomas E. Dwyer, Jr., told Insider that "Mr. Duran has dedicated his entire life to rehousing homeless families in Greater Boston. He has supervised the placement of thousands of families seeking shelter," adding that "it is a sad day for my client and his family."

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey brought forward the claims against Duran after an investigation conducted in response to an anonymous tip.

In addition to skimming rent, the investigation alleged Duran stole $242,012 through fraudulent invoices and contracts, according to the Office of the Attorney General.

Healey told the Boston Globe that she promises to "hold him accountable for allegedly lining his pockets with millions of dollars in state funding meant for the shelter and the families it serves."

If convicted, Duran potentially faces up to 80 years in prison.

Casa Nueva Vida owns 14 shelters throughout Greater Boston and specializes in providing emergency housing for Latina mothers and their children as the only local shelter with completely bilingual staff.