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.

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)

Testimony of The Honorable David A. Montoya Inspector General Office of Inspector General U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on HUD Management Issues (03/29/2012)

This bulletin provides an overview of areas in which to prevent fraud and mismanagement. All public housing agency (PHA) commissioners should know steps to take in maintaining integrity at their PHA. HUD-OIG will issue more in-depth coverage for each of these areas in future bulletins.

Goods and services must be procured in an effective manner and in compliance with Federal, State, and local laws.  Although the majority of public housing agencies (PHA) comply with these rules and regulations, we are issuing this bulletin to assist you in identifying weaknesses in procurement and contracting procedures. 

Now you can read this important message in several languages!   Is Fraud Worth it? - In Arabic Is Fraud Worth it? - In Cantonese Is Fraud Worth it? - In Korean Is Fraud Worth it? - In Vietnamese Is Fraud Worth it? - In Russian Is Fraud Worth it? - In Spanish Is Fraud Worth it? - In Mandarin

HUDOIG drafted a fraud bulletin outlining potential schemes where unscrupulous actors use misleading product information to entice business owners and government agencies to purchase defective or ineffective equipment or products that are purported to protect people from COVID-19.