Overview:
Federal authorities have arrested Yvonette Joseph, a former Massachusetts resident, for allegedly defrauding a COVID-19 emergency rental program of over $100,000. Officers say she falsely claimed to be a landlord in California and despatched some funds abroad.
A lady previously from Holliston, Mass., was arrested this week for allegedly defrauding a federal COVID-19 rental help program out of greater than $100,000.
Yvonette Joseph, 45, now dwelling in Minneapolis, was arrested on Aug. 26 and charged with theft of presidency cash. She appeared in federal courtroom in Minnesota and is scheduled to seem in Boston at a later date, federal authorities mentioned.
The costs stem from funds distributed by way of the Emergency Rental Help program, a federal initiative launched in 2021 to assist low-income households combating housing prices in the course of the pandemic.
In accordance with courtroom data, Joseph allegedly acquired the funds from the California Division of Housing and Neighborhood Growth after candidates falsely listed her as a landlord of a Los Angeles property. Authorities say she later wired a portion of the cash to a checking account in Nigeria and used the remaining for private bills.
If convicted, Joseph faces as much as 10 years in jail, three years of supervised launch and a tremendous of as much as $250,000 or double the quantity of monetary achieve.
Assistant U.S. Legal professional Kristen A. Kearney is prosecuting the case. The U.S. Treasury’s Workplace of Inspector Common can be concerned within the investigation.
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