Chicago Businessman Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Prison for Bilking Elderly Homeowners in Reverse Mortgage Scheme
CHICAGO — A Chicago businessman was sentenced today to more than 17 years in federal prison for bilking elderly homeowners in a reverse mortgage and home repair scheme.MARK STEVEN DIAMOND schemed with others to induce homeowners to unwittingly obtain reverse mortgage loans to pay for purported home Read More
Enero 16, 2025
News
Press Release
Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Orchestrating $1.5 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme in Chicago
CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for orchestrating a mortgage fraud scheme in Chicago that bilked multiple financial institutions out of more than $1.5 million.LEE HOLLIDAY, 66, of Schererville, Ind., pleaded guilty last year to a federal bank fraud Read More
Enero 14, 2025
News
Press Release
LA Wildfires: Fraud Risk Awareness for Affected Residents
The devastating and tragic wildfires in Los Angeles, like many natural disasters, have caused hardship conditions that leave individuals, businesses, and communities vulnerable to bad actors who take advantage of those impacted by these severe weather emergencies.
Fraud Bulletins or Alert
Low-Income Housing Employee Sentenced For Stealing Rent Money
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile woman was sentenced today to 14 months in federal prison for stealing rent money for government-assisted low-income housing.According to court documents, Shannon Caruso, age 48, of Mobile, was employed as a property manager by two different government housing authorities that Read More
Enero 10, 2025
News
Press Release
Hampton Woman Pleads Guilty to $161 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme
ATLANTA - Kimberly Johnson has pleaded guilty for her role in a mortgage fraud scheme spanning more than three years and resulting in the approval of approximately 450 mortgage loans based on fabricated documents and false information. Many of the loans are insured by the Federal Housing Read More
Enero 10, 2025
News
Press Release
HUD’s Office of Multifamily Needs To Improve Its Oversight of PBRA and FHA-Insured PBV Properties Converted Under RAD
HUD’s Office of Housing contracts with performance-based contract administrators to administer the housing assistance payments (HAP) contract with owners. Through RAD, HUD oversees the HAP contracts for converted properties and monitors owners for compliance with HUD’s requirements, which Read More
Diciembre 18, 2024
Report
#2025-CH-0001
Hampton landlord who racially harassed and evicted tenants sentenced to 17 years in prison
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man was sentenced today to 17 years in prison for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and race-based interference with housing and employment.According to court documents, David L. Merryman, 59, owned 39 rental properties in Newport News and 23 more in Hampton. Read More
Diciembre 18, 2024
News
Press Release
The IG Transmits Whistleblower Protections in HUD’s Nondisclosure Agreements Evaluation Report to Senator Grassley
December 17, 2024, letter from Inspector General Oliver Davis transmitting the evaluation report, “The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Nondisclosure Agreements’ Incorporation of Whistleblower Protections” to Senator Grassley. We commenced this evaluation based on the Read More
Diciembre 17, 2024
Correspondence
Third Former NYCHA Superintendent Convicted Of Bribery And Extortion Offenses At Trial
In the Third Trial Following a 70-Person Takedown in February 2024, Corey Gilmore, a Former New York City Housing Authority Superintendent, was Convicted of Bribery and Extortion for Accepting Cash from NYCHA Contractors in Exchange for Awarding ContractsDamian Williams, the United States Attorney Read More
Diciembre 13, 2024
News
Press Release
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Nondisclosure Agreements’ Incorporation of Whistleblower Protections
We obtained the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) two nondisclosure policies and two nondisclosure forms applicable to HUD employees. We also obtained 13 nondisclosure agreements between HUD and HUD employees. The nondisclosure policies, forms, and agreements did Read More
Diciembre 13, 2024
Report
#2024-OE-0007
Fiscal Year 2024 Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 Penetration Test
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted penetration testing concurrently with our fiscal year 2024 Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA) evaluation. The objective of the penetration testing evaluation was to Read More
Diciembre 11, 2024
Report
#2024-OE-0002a
United States Obtains Consent Decree Against Lilmor Management, Morris Lieberman, And Others To Abate Lead Paint And Improve Housing Conditions Across More Than 2,500 Apartments In Largely Low And Moderate-Income Neighborhoods
Defendants Admit Violations and Agree to Pay $6.5 Million in Penalties and Restitution and to Undertake Broad Remediation of Their Housing PortfolioDamian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Lisa F. Garcia, the Regional Administrator for Region 2 of the U.S. Read More
Diciembre 13, 2024
News
Press Release
Ginnie Mae Concentration Risk Oversight
HUD OIG is conducting an audit of Ginnie Mae's portfolio and issuer oversight. According to a Ginnie Mae report issued in December 2024 , 88.97% of Ginnie Mae's approximately $2.6 trillion in guaranteed pooled loans are owned by 30 mortgage companies, of which 22 of them are nonbank institutions. Read More
Diciembre 01, 2024
Work Start Notification
#KC 25 0004
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Personally Identifiable Information Risk Management in a Zero Trust Environment (2023-OE-0007) Evaluation Report
The OIG evaluated the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) progress in applying zero trust security principles to protect personally identifiable information (PII). HUD maintained a significant number of records that contain PII with limited zero trust controls in place to Read More
Diciembre 12, 2024
Report
#2023-OE-0007
Audit of the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development's Fiscal Years 2024 and 2023 Financial Statements
We recommend that the Chief Financial Officer enhance existing policies to establish a formal grant accrual risk management framework to help ensure consistent standards across HUD with regard to the development, review, and execution of the grant accrual and validation. This framework should Read More
Open Recommendation
Audit of the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development's Fiscal Years 2024 and 2023 Financial Statements
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations of Community Planning and Development enhance CPDs existing Grant Accrual Standard Operating Procedures to strengthen governance within CPD and to effectively work within the framework established by the OCFO in recommendation 1A. Read More
Open Recommendation
The Data in CAIVRS Did Not Agree With the Data in FHA's Default and Claims Systems
Update selection rules for CAIVRS to provide for complete reporting of all ineligible borrowers to put $9.5 million to better use.
Status
In 2020, HUD suspended reporting delinquencies and defaults to the Credit Alert Verification Reporting System (CAIVRS) because these debts are Read More
Open Recommendation
The Sanford Housing Authority, Sanford, NC, Did Not Comply With Procurement and Financial Requirements
Support the cost reasonableness of the nine contracts or reimburse $408,958 to the appropriate Operating Fund, Capital Fund, and Housing Choice Voucher programs from non-Federal funds.
Open Recommendation
Timing of PHAs' Lead-Based Paint Visual Assessments
Issue guidance to PHAs clarifying the timing of unit inspections and lead-based paint visual assessments to address the misinterpretation caused by the terms “annual” and “every 12 months.”
Open Recommendation
Self-proclaimed “Short Sale Queen” and associates indicted in federal mortgage fraud scheme
PLANO, Texas – Three Texas women have been charged with federal violations related to a mortgage fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.Nicole Espinosa, also known as Short Sale Queen, 35, of Plano; Stephanie Smith, also known as Stephanie Parks, 44, Read More
Diciembre 03, 2024
News
Press Release