United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

HARTFORD LANDLORD PLEADS GUILTY TO STEALING HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF BENEFITS

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that URBAN DEVELOPERS, LLC, pleaded guilty today before Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns in New Haven to one count of theft of federal Hurricane Katrina relief benefits.

According to court documents and statements made in court, URBAN  DEVELOPERS owned and operated an apartment building at 105 Sherbrooke Avenue in Hartford.  In pleading guilty, URBAN DEVELOPERS admitted that, between December 2005 and October 2006, the business knowingly stole and converted United States Government funds totaling $13,749 that were provided through rental assistance programs maintained by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Hurricane Katrina victims.  The rental assistance payments were paid directly to URBAN DEVELOPERS on behalf of tenant Christine Tate, who was already receiving U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rental assistance that precluded the receipt of additional housing assistance.

Judge Burns has scheduled sentencing for May 25, 2010, at which time URBAN DEVELOPERS faces a fine of up to $500,000.

On November 16, 2009, TATE pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement about her eligibility for federal rental assistance.  She is awaiting sentencing.

This case was investigated by special agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William A. Collier.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov