The White Mountain Apache Housing Authority misspent millions of federal dollars on entertainment, gift certificates and other improper items, and is so badly managed it should be considered for receivership, according to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development audit released this week. A HUD Office of Inspector General report issued Tuesday also says the agency's Southwest Office of Native American Programs should order the tribal...

U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Mexico Press Release ALBUQUERQUE—Two men from Gallup, N.M., pleaded guilty today to federal charges arising out of a scheme to defraud the United States and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of more than $100,000. The guilty pleas were announced by U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Phyllis Robinson, Special Agent in Charge of Region 6, HUD Office of Inspector General, and Carol K.O...

  Testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations Topic: “Evaluating Public Housing in the U.S.: Reigning in Waste, Fraud, Abuse and Mismanagement at Public Housing Authorities."  

USAO Southern District of Ohio Press Release COLUMBUS – Wendy Harper, 44, Columbus, Ohio pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to embezzling HUD program funds from her employer, Harvest Management Group, Inc, which manages more than 900 units for elderly and disabled people who qualify for HUD assistance. She also pleaded guilty to filing a false income tax return. Carter M. Stewart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Barry...

NEWARK — The former executive director of an East Orange-based non-profit developer of low-income housing was arrested today on charges she had embezzled more than $380,000 from the corporation, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement this evening. Lancie Marchan, 64, who headed the East Orange Revitalization and Development Corporation, used the money for trips, hotel stays, visits to casinos and gifts, among other things, the...

GRAND RAPIDS — A St. Johns businessman has pleaded guilty to charges that he submitted false claims to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, federal prosecutors announced today. James Ortman, 58, admitted earlier this month to defrauding HUD out of a $200,000 grant in 2008 for a facade project for a building in downtown St. Johns. He also admitted to defrauding the government on another grant for an apartment complex in St....

This Press Release Courtesy of United States Attorney Daniel G. Bogden - Department of Justice - District of Nevada LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A woman who pleaded guilty to stealing over $400,000 from the unemployment system, public housing authority, and Social Security Administration, was sentenced today to 57 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $477,466 in restitution, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States...

(LAS VEGAS, KXNT)–A Las Vegas woman who ripped off the unemployment system, public housing authority and Social Security of over $400,000 has been given a nearly 5 year prison term. Teresa Towns , 50, who pleaded guilty last Fall to various charges involving the theft of government money, has been ordered to pay $477,000 restitution. Over an eight year period until her arrest last year, prosecutors say Towns used various aliases to establish...

Like a fire-and-brimstone preacher, a federal judge dressed down a local pastor and former Columbus Urban League official yesterday before sentencing him to 31/2 years in prison for stealing more than $85,000 from the league. U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley chastised defendant Ovell K. Harrison for undermining the Urban League and filling his own pockets for seven years with money that should have gone to those in need of housing, child...

Former Lafayette and Opelousas Housing Authority Executive Director Walter Guillory has been indicted on federal bribery and wire fraud charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office on Thursday filed charges against Guillory, who was forced to resign as LHA director Oct. 25, 2010, following an audit that revealed problems at the LHA. Guillory served as executive director of the Opelousas Housing Authority from 2005 until 2009 while he was also executive...

An Oakland County woman who admits stealing $380,000 from a program for the homeless is facing two years or more in prison. Linda Linseman is a former state employee. She's returning to Detroit federal court Tuesday, four months after pleading guilty to theft of government property. The plea deal signed by the 55-year-old Waterford woman says she spent the money for herself or allowed others to enjoy it. The scheme lasted four years until...

LA JOYA - The director of the La Joya Housing Authority says a federal investigation into his businesses may have been politically motivated. "It gets pretty dirty, they'll use whatever they want to distract the voters and trying to change, outcome (sic)," Juan Jose Garza said. Federal agents raided Garza's home and office on Wednesday. Garza said he is baffled by the investigation. Garza also serves as a La Joya ISD board member. Garza said he...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2013 Linda Linseman, 56, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced yesterday to 32 months imprisonment by Judge Robert H. Cleland for her theft of more than $385,000 in Federal and State grant funds designated to Lighthouse of Oakland, a non-profit organization in Pontiac, Michigan, dedicated to helping the homeless, announced United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade. McQuade was joined in the announcement by...

PHILADELPHIA - Sondra Wong Nelson, 36, of Philadelphia was charged by Indictment, unsealed October 3, 2013, with one count of theft from a federally funded organization and two counts of falsely altering a postal money order, announced U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger. According to the indictment, between January 2012 and June 2010, during her tenure as a Supervisory Asset Manager at the Philadelphia Housing Authority (APHA@), Nelson embezzled...

For Immediate Release September 30, 2013 Contact: HUD OIG Communications [email protected] Washington, DC – Today, Inspector General David A. Montoya announced the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a report entitled, “Moving to Work Demonstration Program.”  This audit was undertaken to focus HUD management’s attention on problem areas reported on over the years...

Testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations “Reducing Waste, Fraud and Abuse in Housing Programs: Inspector General Perspectives”  

Nikkijam30When the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh was questioned by the city controller, a television station and federal auditors in the past year, it turned to Michael Syme. Mr. Syme, an attorney with Downtown-based Cohen & Grigsby, is one of a handful of top consultants to the authority, who weigh in on key decisions involving redevelopment, security and the agency's internal structure.

TRENTON, N.J. – A federal grand jury in New Jersey has indicted the developer of three Trenton affordable housing projects for allegedly diverted money intended for the developments, announced New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman. A federal grand jury returned a 25-count indictment today charging Robert Kahan, 67, of Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., with 10 counts of making false statement in a loan application, three counts of bank fraud...

TRENTON -- Over the course of building affordable housing in Trenton, developer Robert Kahan misstated his net worth in order to obtain huge loans, then skimmed money from the accounts to buy a condominium in Florida and make repairs on his son’s home, a federal indictment alleged today. The 25 count-indictment includes bank fraud, mail fraud, fraud against a local government receiving federal proceeds, and making false statements on a loan...

Testimony of the Honorable David A. Montoya, Inspector General, before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies on HUD Management Issues (03/14/2013)