Investigative Findings of Misconduct by a GS-15 Attorney
This investigation was initiated upon the receipt of information from the Deputy Ethics Counselor for Region 5 of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Regional Counsel. It was alleged that an employee with Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), who is also an attorney Read More
March 31, 2021
Investigation Summary
#2019-MW-009750I
Investigation Into Alleged Misconduct by a Former HUD Director
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiated this investigation upon receipt of information from several complainants alleging that a former Director at HUD failed to recuse themselves from any HUD matters while negotiating future employment with a Read More
March 31, 2021
Investigation Summary
#2017-SU-004477I
Law Firm Bookkeeper Sentenced for Fraud, Identity Theft
PROVIDENCE – A former bookkeeper/office manager who admitted to embezzling more than $740,000 from a Rhode Island law firm that employed her, fraudulently collecting nearly $20,000 in temporary disability insurance payments, and filing fraudulent documents when applying for a mortgage from a Rhode Read More
March 30, 2021
News
Press Release
Reimbursements Received Through Rent Credits From the General Services Administration
We audited rent credits that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) during fiscal years 2015 through 2018 in exchange for financial contributions for building improvements. We initiated this audit due to concerns Read More
March 29, 2021
Report
#2021-PH-0002
Evaluation Closure – Federal Housing Administration Residency Requirements
In June 2020, we received letters from members of Congress, including the chairpersons of the House Committee on Financial Services and Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee, expressing concern that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) imposed a new, nonpublic, and legally Read More
March 30, 2021
Memorandum
#2021-OE-0002
Elizabeth Landlord Charged with Sexual Crimes Against 13 Tenants
The owner of hundreds of rental units scattered across 18 residential properties in Elizabeth has been arrested and criminally charged with coercing more than a dozen of his tenants into sexual acts in exchange for financial relief, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Elizabeth Read More
March 22, 2021
News
Press Release
Key Internal Controls Related to Disaster Recovery Procurement
The urgency in post-disaster recoveries often leads State and local officials to work to quickly restore infrastructure and public services and help make repairs. Such urgency can sometimes result in cutting corners with CDBG program requirements. However, grantees and sub-recipients that do not Read More
Fraud Bulletins or Alert
HUD and its CDBG-DR grantees have experienced challenges related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG), has completed a survey of the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grantees. Our objective was to Read More
March 23, 2021
Memorandum
#2021-GA-0801
HUD’s PIH Office of Field Operations Generally Confirmed That PHAs Complied With the Implementing Guidance of HUD’s Smoke-Free Policy Requirements
We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Public and Indian Housing’s (PIH) Office of Field Operations’ (OFO) oversight of public housing agencies’ (PHA) compliance with implementing HUD’s smoke-free policy. We initiated the audit in accordance with our Read More
March 19, 2021
Report
#2021-AT-0001
Middle Tennessee Investors To Pay $200,000 To Settle False Claims Act Allegations Regarding HUD Program
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – March 22, 2021 – Laziza Abdullaeva and Aziz Ashurov of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, agreed to pay $200,000 to settle False Claims Act allegations involving misrepresentations in their purchases of certain properties from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), Read More
March 22, 2021
News
Press Release
Former Echo Housing Corporation Executive Director Sentenced on Three Counts of Theft
Evansville – Acting United States Attorney John Childress announced today that Stephanie TenBarge, 73, of Evansville, Indiana, was sentenced to two years’ probation by U.S. District Judge Richard Young. TenBarge previously worked as the Executive Director at Echo Housing Corporation, where she Read More
March 16, 2021
News
Press Release
Impact of COVID-19 on Nursing Homes
HUD OIG is conducting a review of HUD's Office of Residential Care Facilities. Media reports have shown that the COVID-19 virus impacted nursing homes nationwide. Our audit objective is to determine the biggest challenges that nursing home owners face related to COVID-19 and whether Read More
March 01, 2021
Work Start Notification
#KC-21-0006
Indictment Details Charges in Conspiracy to Defraud Financially Distressed Homeowners, Financial Institutions
PROVIDENCE – A Johnston-based real estate investment firm, the company’s founder, and a person who held himself out to be a negotiator on behalf of financially distressed homeowners but who was, in reality, associated with the real estate investment firm, have been indicted by a federal grand jury Read More
March 09, 2021
News
Press Release
Key Considerations From Prior Audits of the Single Family Default Monitoring System and the Partial Claim Loss Mitigation Option
We prepared this memorandum to provide the Office of Housing at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with key considerations from prior audits of the HUD Single Family Default Monitoring System (SFDMS) and the partial claim loss mitigation option. These audits identified Read More
March 12, 2021
Memorandum
#2021-KC-0801
HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) Complaint Intake Process
HUD OIG is auditing HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) complaint intake process. The complaint intake process is one of the initial stages in HUD’s FHEO mission to eliminate housing discrimination, promote economic opportunity, and achieve diverse, inclusive communities Read More
March 01, 2021
Work Start Notification
#BO-21-0005
Fostering Youth to Independence Initiative
HUD OIG is reviewing HUD's Fostering Youth to Independence (FYI) initiative. The FYI initiative makes Housing Choice Voucher assistance available to Public Housing Agencies in partnership with Public Child Welfare Agencies. The review objective is to determine the effectiveness of the Read More
December 08, 2020
Work Start Notification
#LA-21-0014
HUD's Compliance with the DATA Act
HUD OIG is auditing HUD’s compliance with the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act) as it relates to HUD’s program funds and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. OMB requires Federal agencies to report all financial and award data in Read More
March 01, 2021
Work Start Notification
#FO-21-0003
PRAC Releases Virtual Stakeholder Listening Forum with Experts on Housing
Today the PRAC’s Financial Sector Oversight working group released a new video of a stakeholder listening forum entitled, “Pandemic Response: Perspectives on Housing.” The working group is comprised of Inspectors General (IGs) with oversight responsibilities in the areas of banking, lending, and Read More
March 03, 2021
News
Press Release
Necessary System Interfaces Between HERMIT And The National Servicing Center Were Not In Place
We audited selected general and application controls over the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) Home Equity Reverse Mortgage Information Technology (HERMIT) system as part of the internal control assessments required for the fiscal year 2019 financial statement audit under the Chief Financial Read More
March 02, 2021
Report
#2021-DP-0002