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Six people were arrested Wednesday for income fraud regarding residency requirements for a government-subsidized housing development in Augusta, Ga., but the sweep is just the tip of the iceberg. Warrants were issued for 80 more arrests, and so far, 54 people have been taken to jail. These individuals are being arrested on charges of theft by taking and/or providing false statements for fraudulently obtaining federal funding under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, which is administered through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Housing Choice Voucher program.
Operation Clean House, spearheaded by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and HUD's Office of the Inspector General, focused on the 149 Georgia counties where Section 8 housing is managed by the state Department of Community Affairs. Those counties serve more than 15,000 families and provide $100 million in federal subsidies a year. The average recipient family has two to three members and receives a subsidy of between $600 to $1,000 a month.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, people receiving housing benefits to which they are not legally entitled, are not only stealing money from taxpayers but also from the people who really need the program. The fraud involved in these cases totaled approximately $1.1 million, which is money that could be returned to the program during prosecution. This money could then be distributed to people who are truly in need of financial assistance for housing.
The Section 8 program offers subsidized rental units for the elderly and those who are low-income or disabled. Eligible individuals pay a portion of the rent based on their income. The feds will cover anything above 30 percent of your adjusted monthly income up to an established limit.
The arrests are targeting people who have lied about their income and/or the number of folks in their household. Some individuals even had second jobs that they kept secret.
"We appreciate the combined efforts of the HUD Office of Inspector General, GBI and DCA to combat housing fraud by arresting those that are violating the law and depriving especially those in need of affordable housing. We have zero tolerance for such fraud and are committed to aggressively working to identify and help prosecute any individuals that would seek to defraud or abuse this essential program," said U.S. HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Edward Jennings, Jr.
GBI's director, Vernon Keenan, has asked those who have made false statements on their Section 8 application to come forward. Leniency may be granted to those individuals who are willing to correct the error of their ways. Those who are courageous enough to admit what they've done will have to leave their housing situation and pay back what they owe but will probably not face prosecution.
If there are more Section 8 cheats lurking throughout the state, Jennings has a few choice words for them:
"We have zero tolerance for [Section 8] fraud and are committed to aggressively working to identify and help prosecute any individuals that would seek to defraud or abuse this essential program."
If you know of someone who is committing Section 8 fraud and want to blow the whistle, contact 800-347-3735.
Comments: (23)
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By: tgong on 9/02/2010 1:39PM
That's right U.S., prey on the poor, by all means, arrest them, butcher them and keep free your white collared corporate tycoons who'd rather die than hire them and pay them a decent wage. Wage war on the poor American...$1Million dollars is chump change in today's economy but a heavenly reward awaits you for protecting the nation's purse. Arrest, arrest, arrest the citizens...justice for all!
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By: WORK The real 4 letter word... on 9/02/2010 4:48PM
Oh well, so what, ain't no big deal. I'm on welfare and don't pay ANY taxes.
I work just enough (on the books) so I can keep my welfare steady pump’n.
I get All my taxes back and then a good chunk from the government. H and R block said it’s called earned income credit.
I’ve heard there actually are real suckers that work and pay taxes. The taxes they pay is how I’m able to get the credit. (It’s a lot too “LOL”). Suckers Ha Ha.....
I also get free healthcare for all 8 of my babies. I always wanted a lot of babies so don’t hate.
I make appointments all the time and go to the emergency room when ever I want.
I keep telling my Dr. my back, knees and feet hurt so I can get pills to sell.
They gave me a brace and a cane but you only have to wear it when you go see the Dr or when your welfare check is late and you got to go get it yourself. Make sure you take a cab if you have to go down there so you don’t draw attention to yourself (This one is important). Don’t need the man asking too many questions know what I mean?
I also see a shrink and get some pills from that Dr. too. Free and easy money (LOL!)
Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do so I pretend not to know who the father of all my babies are. All I had to do was start crying and I got this here section 8 housing.
After you get all the free stuff just have your man move in then Everyone gets a free ride.
Don’t worry about his medical bills. If anything happens to him just don’t pay.
The money is there for the taking. Now if anyone knows any other way I can get my hands on some more free money please let me know because it’s hard making ends meet after I sell my food stamps for half their face value to buy beer, cigarettes and (weed) cause crack is WHACK!.
An added bonus of pretending I don’t know the father of my babies is he’s able to sport 24 inch rims on his new escalade. It’s real nice styling around town in that baby “let me tell ya”
I also want to put my kids through college so any posts on how to play that system would be appreciated.
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By: dvine on 9/02/2010 11:04AM
what i don't understand is if ppl are already getting the subsidy and only paying 30% of their income for rent why lie knowing when you get caught your going to be kicked out of the program?! any income you receive such as employment income, unemployment, child support, social security, disability, winnings from the lottery (depends on the amt), and income from someone who is on the lease is to be reported.. It's still only 30%, it won't break your pocket.
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By: Eric on 9/02/2010 11:23AM
Sadly, the answer your question is rather easy to answer! It's black people that just for some reason always have this "get over mentality", and are plain greedy! That only makes it worse for those that really do need housing for their families that are left out in the cold. Black people are just their own worse enemies, always have been, and sadly always will be! They always have their hands out for anything that's free, this is another example why most non-black people are against section 8 housing! The fraud, and abuse is always ...sadly centered around the usual suspects..."black people!"
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By: The Truth on 9/02/2010 12:29PM
Divine you are right on target. ERIC...oh Eric, how is it you assume it's Blacks. I grew up in a poor section of Zanesville Ohio and I can assure you that section 8 housing has a mix of race. There were no names given in the article, no indication of race color or creed yet you decide upon black. It's not a roullette wheel dumbass so go spin your deep seeded racism somewhere else. Just be glad someone cares enough to prosecute those ripping off the hard working Americans that are in this country legally. God Bless america and the president of the USA.
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By: Mr LOL on 9/02/2010 12:53PM
@ Eric
Another teabag scum white racist on blackvoices. The majority of people on section 8, welfare and food stamps are WHITE..like you. You probably are the one who made the first comment.
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By: Justifyed on 9/03/2010 8:39AM
@ Mr LOL... I only clicked on this blog, because I knew Eric's ignorant azz would have something to say. I find it hilarious, that he talks about blacks like animals, but spends the majority of his time, canvasing the BV Blogs and showing off his lack of intelligence.
Also...True... the MAJORITY of ppl on welfare, section 8, food stamps...etc are WHITE, however...they only point out the black ppl, as
usual.
@ Eric...Don't let your mind wander -- it's too little to be let out alone.
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By: SICK! OF! IT! on 9/02/2010 12:49PM
Typical Fat, Lazy, Whatever saying!, selling their food stamps for booze and drugs while squirting out babies to get paid even more, leeching off others with an I don't care attitude, 24 inch rims on a cadillac driving, free health care at the expense of taxpayers, pretending they don't know who the father is even though he lives in the house with them losers.
What goes around comes around. Nothing is for free. Stop leeching off others and complaining about how bad things are. get off your ass, get a job and some self-respect. Don't settle for government hand-outs. Give a person a fish and they eat for a day. Make them fish and guess what, They have to (HAVE TO) feed themselves. America is becoming more and more a breeding ground for entitlement. If you’re not legally insane, physically or mentally incompetent you have no excuse, BOOK EM DANNO!!!
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By: David1 on 9/02/2010 1:02PM
There is no point even commenting on this story. This is the kind of story white teabag racist love even thought there is no mention of the race of the section 8 recipients. In their white pea brains, social programs = black, even though whites are the main beneficiaries. No point in debating white racist. It's a waste of time.
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By: DeiaynciaCimone on 9/03/2010 8:26AM
Thank you David. White folks is the number ONES on welfare. Blacks right up their behinds though as number two in line. I had a racist white Mother in law whose favorite word was "N" welfare. I showed her a newspaper article (asked her if she could read) that whites dominated welfare. She shut that mouth then, what bliss, RIF. RIF = Reading is fundamental.
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