LOS ANGELES – A Westwood man was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with fraudulently obtaining $23 million in public money intended to combat homelessness and pocketing at least $10 million of it, including using it for a $7 million house in Westwood, $125,000 Range Rover, private school tuition for his children, private jet travel, and stays at luxury resorts.Alexander Soofer, 42, is charged with wire fraud. He was…

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jael Watts, age 44, of Bridgeton, New Jersey, and Luis Pino-Copete, age 41, of Bogota, Colombia, were indicted on December 4, 2025, on a wire fraud conspiracy charge related to their operation of a transportation company called Pearl Transit. Watts was separately charged with ten counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent…

Note: View settlement here. The quote has also been updated slightly.The Justice Department announced today that the owner and property manager of residential rental properties in Davenport, Iowa, have agreed to pay $325,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that the property manager sexually harassed female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act.The Department’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa in…

ATLANTA - Tracy Denise Jones, a Senior Vice President at the Atlanta Housing Authority, has been charged with engaging in a scheme to fraudulently collect Section 8 housing assistance payments for her own rental property and family members. She was also charged with making fraudulent applications to collect pandemic relief funds and committing mortgage fraud when refinancing her rental property.“A long-time senior executive of one of the largest…

CLEVELAND – A Portage County man has been sentenced to federal prison for obtaining government assistance by making false and misleading statements regarding his state of health.Michael W. Honaker, 55, of Windham, Ohio, was sentenced to 31 months in prison by U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz, after he pleaded guilty in December 2024 to wire fraud and theft of government property. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release…

The Justice Department announced today that the owners and operators of rental properties in and around Athens County, Ohio have agreed to pay $480,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging that their former rental manager, Joseph Earl Lucas, sexually harassed female tenants and prospective tenants of rental properties for almost twenty years, in violation of the Fair Housing Act.“No one should have to endure sexual harassment to keep a roof over his or…

Two Virginia men were arrested today for their roles in a conspiracy to destroy government databases hosted by a federal government contractor, among other crimes.“These defendants abused their positions as federal contractors to attack government databases and steal sensitive government information. Their actions jeopardized the security of government systems and disrupted agencies’ ability to serve the American people,” said Acting Assistant…

DETROIT — The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against William Aaron Asper, the owner and manager of rental properties located in and around Westland, Michigan, for engaging in sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of the Fair Housing Act.The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, alleges that William Asper sexually harassed female tenants beginning in 2018, and…

The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against William Aaron Asper, the owner and manager of rental properties located in and around Westland, Michigan, for engaging in sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of the Fair Housing Act.The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, alleges that William Asper sexually harassed female tenants beginning in 2018 and continuing to…

Less Than 22 Months After the Arrests—Which Were the Largest Number of Federal Bribery Charges on a Single Day in Department of Justice History—All 70 Charged Defendants Have Pled Guilty or Were Convicted at Trial for Accepting Cash PaymentsUnited States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), Jocelyn E. Strauber, Acting Inspector General of the U.S…

This release was published following the 43-day government shutdown during which the plea occurred.JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of stealing funds from a program or entity receiving federal funding, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced.Brett Smith, 41, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines on October 1,…

RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond woman pled guilty yesterday to wire fraud in connection with her operation of a homeless shelter focused on women and children.According to court documents, Kia A. Player, 41, won a grant to operate an inclement weather shelter for homeless women and children in the Richmond metropolitan area, named RVA Sister’s Keeper. RVA Sister’s Keeper obtained over $995,000 in governmental funding from the United States Department…

WACO, Texas – An Austin woman was sentenced in a federal court in Waco today to 37 months in prison for embezzling federal funds for personal use while serving as the executive director of the Killeen Housing Authority (KHA).According to court documents, Deadra Johnson, 53, fraudulently obtained KHA funds and used them to pay for her personal expenses, including rent, utilities, auto maintenance, internet service, airline tickets, and furniture…

Editor's Note:This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.   HOUSTON – A 62-year-old California resident has been ordered to federal prison for leading a sweeping mortgage and loan fraud scheme that defrauded businesses, banks, mortgage lenders and government programs out of millions of dollars,…

Editor's Note:This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.  HOUSTON – A 20-count indictment has been unsealed following the arrest of a 56-year-old Porter resident for fraudulently applying for and receiving a newly built house worth $435,000, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei.Sharai Poteet also…

PORTLAND, Maine: A Glenburn woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for embezzling from an organization receiving federal funds and conspiring to alter money orders.U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Kelly Ballinger, 59, to 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Ballinger will also be ordered to pay restitution totaling approximately $1 million. Ballinger pleaded guilty on…

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Thomas B. Hoffman (45, Florahome) has pleaded guilty to theft of federal funds. Hoffman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, as well as forfeiture in the amount of $155,706 and restitution to the victim. A sentencing date has not yet been set.According to the plea agreement, Hoffman was an employee of the Palatka Housing Authority (PHA), which…

Sean P. Madigan, 35, and Victoria Madigan, 35, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, were both sentenced to five years of supervised probation for crimes related to making false statements and wire fraud. Sean was sentenced on June 6 and the court ordered him to pay $161,175 in restitution to the State of Wyoming. Sean was also ordered to pay $12,864 in restitution, joint and several with his co-defendant Victoria, to the Cheyenne Housing Authority. Victoria…

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A former resident of Hudson, Florida, was sentenced in federal court to 78 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of wire fraud conspiracy, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Paul Andrew Gulbronson, 59, on September 9, 2025.According to information presented to the Court,…

GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey announced that Teri Lyn Looney, age 53, of Dimondale, Michigan was indicted by a grand jury on a criminal charge alleging that she embezzled approximately $95,000 from SIREN Eaton Shelter, a program receiving federal funds.SIREN Eaton Shelter is a Michigan nonprofit dedicated to helping survivors of domestic abuse, their children, and homeless families in Eaton County and surrounding areas.  It…