United States Attorney, Richard W. Moore, of the Southern District of Alabama announces that Tonya Lewis, a 39 year old resident of Selma, Alabama was charged in a two Count Indictment with Theft of Government Funds (Count One) and Aggravated Identity Theft (Count Two).  The Indictment alleges that Lewis stole approximately $95,689.44 from HUD that was entrusted to the Selma Housing Authority and that she stole the identity of another person to obtain a credit card.
  
Upon conviction, Lewis will face a maximum penalty of 10 years of incarceration, a fine of $250,000 and a supervised release term of three years for Count One.   Lewis faces a minimum mandatory two years consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of $250,000 and a supervised release term of three year for Count Two.

Nadine E. Gurley, Special Agent in Charge, HUD-OIG remarked, ”  [a]s the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), it is our responsibility to investigate allegations of fraud against HUD and HUD funded agencies such as the Selma Housing Authority.  We will continue to promote our efforts in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office during this investigation.”

An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until and unless he or she is proven guilty at trial.