A couple were sentenced today for misappropriating public funds for a group of foster homes they ran, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

CSJ Kidogo, 76, was sentenced to 180 days in county jail and placed on five years of formal probation. His wife, Hitaji Kidogo, 65, was sentenced to three years of summary probation.

Both were ordered to no longer operate foster homes. They also paid $109,093 in restitution.

Deputy District Attorney Susan Ser of the Public Integrity Division prosecuted the case.

CSJ Kidogo, the former executive director of Little People's World Inc., pleaded guilty to one felony count of misappropriation of public money in September 2015. Hitaji Kidogo, the company's former assistant executive director, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of embezzlement.

Little People's World operated four group homes that provided foster care to more than two dozen children in the county. An audit by the county's Auditor-Controller discovered that CSJ Kidogo borrowed money tabbed for foster care to purchase real estate for himself and pay mortgages on properties not used for the foster care program.

Case BA429310 was investigated by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Los Angeles County District Attorney / Case BA429310 / May 24, 2017