WOMAN SENTENCED IN SECTION 8 HOUSING BENEFITS FRAUD CASE

Rochester, N.Y.--Barbara A. Singleton, age 50, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of theft of public money on January 17, 2007, was sentenced to 5 years probation and restitution in the amount of $55,933 to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer, U.S. Attorney Terrance P. Flynn of the Western District of New York announced today.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Lee, who handled the case, stated that the defendant had been convicted of theft of public money when she applied and re-certified for section 8 housing benefits for her residence in Rochester which was owned by an individual who was the father of two of her children. According to housing regulations, generally, a unit will not be approved for section 8 benefits if the owner is the parent of any member of the family applying for benefits. In addition, contrary to the housing regulations, the defendant failed to list all the individuals living at her residence; specifically, she failed to disclose that the owner of her residence was also living at the same premises.

The conviction was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, under the direction of Stephen Banko and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Laurie Bennett.