Webb, Key due in court to face forgery, theft charges

Homer Key and Freida Webb

The felony theft case against Freida Webb, Milwaukee County’s former disadvantaged business enterprise program director, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Webb is accused of felony misconduct, forgery, theft and having a private interest in a public contract. The charges carry a maximum of $55,000 in fines and 23 years in prison.

According to court documents, Webb allegedly conspired with Milwaukee contractor Homer Key to steal federal Community Development Block Grant money from the county’s Office of Community Business Development Partners.

Key is also charged with four felonies: forgery, conspiracy to commit the crime of having a private interest in a public contract and two counts of theft by fraud, according to court documents. Key’s charges carry a maximum of $70,000 in fines and 29 ½ years in prison.

Key’s case is also scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Both cases are assigned to Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Jean DiMotto.

Webb and Key both appeared in court June 27 and were released on $1,000 bond.