Aug. 2, 2010

KANSAS CITY WOMAN SENTENCED FOR BRIBING HOUSING OFFICIAL

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Danielle Collins, 48, Kansas City, Kan., has been sentenced to three years probation for bribing a public housing employee, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.

Collins pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery
and one count of bribery. In her plea, she admitted in 2007 she paid $500 to co-defendant Charlesetta Jackson, who was at that time an employee of the Kansas City, Kan., Housing Authority. Jackson provided Collins with a voucher that Collins could take to any approved landlord for credit.

Collins, who was from Chicago, told Jackson she knew many persons in Chicago who would be willing to pay for vouchers. They could use the vouchers to obtain housing in Chicago without having to go through a waiting list. During the conspiracy, Jackson faxed paperwork from Kansas City to Chicago, including letters of introduction addressed to the local housing authority in Illinois. During that time, a co-conspirator in Chicago mailed documents to Collins, who forwarded them to Jackson for use in processing vouchers.

Co-defendant Charlesetta Jackson was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $161,315 in restitution.

Welch commended Housing and Urban Development and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Oakley for their work on the case.