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MINEOLA---Charges have been filed against 16 defendants accused of stealing in excess of $209,000 from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The arrests are the result of an on-going joint investigation between the Nassau County District Attorney's Office and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General.
All charges stem from falsifying and concealing documents regarding their income to HUD in order to receive housing assistance benefits.
Pernell Williams, 51, and Rita Devone Williams, 42, have been charged with second degree grand larceny, a class C felony. Williams has also been charged with first degree offering a false instrument for filing, a class E felony. Gregorio Suero, 52, and Altagracia Suero, 47, have been charged with third degree grand larceny Degree, a class D felony, and first degree offering a false instrument for filing. Nathan Janoff, 60, and Alexander Arco, 56, have been charged with third degree grand larceny and Arco has also been charged with first degree offering a false instrument. Nory Villalona, 46, Regina Mosley, 40, Dewitt Reid, 76, Ola Bailey, 59, Charlene Simmons, 39, Stacey Patterson, 41, Oilyski Williams, 52, Felice Russell, 38, Debra Outlaw, 35, and Marisol Cruz, 34, have each been charged individually with third degree grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing.
It is alleged that between July, 2001 and March, 2006, the Williamses of Freeport, fraudulently received $68,746 in public housing assistance by concealing the fact that Pernell Williams was in the household and employed.
Between March, 2002 and February, 2004, it is alleged that the Sueros, of Oceanside, wrongfully received $18,669 in public housing assistance from HUD by falsely claiming that Gregorio Suero was an employee of Woodfield Grocery, when he was an owner of the business and had substantially more income than they reported.
Ms. Villalona, of Hempstead, allegedly fraudulently received $25,576 in housing subsidies from HUD by allegedly claiming that her only employment was a housecleaning job and failing to reveal that she was also earning over $35,000 a year in a second job.
Mosley, of Hempstead, allegedly failed to reveal that she was earning more than $20,000 per year in a second job in order to obtain $22,056 in Section 8 benefits from HUD.
It is alleged that Reid of Freeport, fraudulently concealed his employment as a night-shift security guard from July, 2001 to December, 2005, thereby receiving $19,177 in public housing benefits from HUD to which he was not entitled. Section 8 benefits from HUD to which she was not entitled.
Between July, 2001 and December, 2004, Bailey of Stockbridge, Ga, allegedly failed to reveal that she was employed at a second job earning over $20,000 more per year. She received $11,883 in Section 8 benefits from HUD to which she was not entitled.
Simmons, of Hempstead allegedly failed to reveal her true income from January, 2002 through June, 2005, thereby fraudulently receiving $9,995 in federal housing assistance from HUD.
It is alleged that Patterson of Amityville failed to report her income and additional income earned by a family member from August, 2001 through December, 2003. This resulted in the defendant receiving $9,687 in public housing assistance to which she was allegedly not entitled.
Between November, 2002 and May, 2005, Oilyski Williams, of Hempstead, allegedly failed to reveal all of her income, thereby wrongfully receiving $7,120 in housing assistance benefits.
Arco and Janoff, who is Arco's landlord, both reside in Long Beach, allegedly conspired to conceal Mr. Arco's income as a tailor between April, 2005 and December, 2005. This resulted in the two defendants receiving $5,628 from HUD to which they were not entitled.
It is alleged that Russell, of Rockville Centre fraudulently obtained $4,536 from HUD between the months of May, 2004 and July, 2005 as a result of claiming that she had lost her job when she was employed full-time.
Outlaw, of Amityville, applied for a federally subsidized apartment and then sublet it to another person between the months of January, 2002 and December, 2005. HUD paid the defendant $3,779 due to the defendant's fraud. Ms. Outlaw kept the rent she charged the sub-tenant during this period.
Between January, 2002 and December, 2005, Cruz of Hempstead allegedly concealed her employment as a dental assistant from the Hempstead Village Housing Authority and obtained over $3,000 in housing assistance from HUD to which she was not entitled. 6-23-06
© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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