A Cincinnati man who was going to live in a Habitat for Humanity home in Westwood, will instead be a guest of the federal government in prison for the next ten years. Just last week, Maraill Miller pleaded guilty to federal drug conspiracy charges. A judge sentenced him to ten years in prison for his role in a cocaine distribution ring. But while Miller is in prison, the deal to provide his family with a low-cost home will proceed.

In May, Habitat kicked off the project to build this house for Brandi Miller, her husband Maraill, and their five kids. The Habitat for Humanity selection committee looked at everyone in the family and ran criminal background checks. They didn’t find anything that disqualified anyone.

To qualify, families have to go through a screening process and be willing to put in 500 hours of sweat equity, along with meeting criteria for low-interest loans. They also have to pass criminal background checks that look for local felony violations, going back five years.

The charity found Maraill Miller had drug charges and a domestic violence arrest in the past, but nothing to disqualify him. Residents of the family’s new neighborhood appreciate that. Walter Brater, Neighbor: “I would be kind of concerned, if we had the criminal element moving into our little group.”

What neighbors don’t appreciate, however, is one month after the kickoff for this project, Maraill Miller was arrested on federal charges for distributing pounds of cocaine in Kentucky.

“You would think if he’s doing things like this, with drugs and drug money, he’d be able to buy his own house and not have to rely on people building him one at a greatly reduced price.” Habitat officials say their deal with the Millers is actually with Maraill’s wife, not him … and she’s what the program is all about.