New Bern Man Pleads Guilty for Posing as Landlord to Fraudulently Collect Nearly $150,000 in COVID-19 Rental Assistance

RALEIGH, N.C. – New Bern resident Anthony Lynch, 35, pled guilty to charges that he defrauded a program designed to help struggling North Carolina residents stay in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Mr. Lynch exploited a taxpayer-funded program meant to support struggling families and individuals trying to stay in their homes during an unprecedented global pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Lynch sought nearly $400,000 in emergency federal funds in 25 separate relief applications. His ill-gotten profits have now landed him a federal conviction.”

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Lynch pled guilty to one count of mail fraud for falsely claiming to be the landlord of properties in Craven, Pamlico and Onslow Counties with renters who were unable to pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Lynch submitted 25 applications to the North Carolina Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions Program (NC HOPE), which was established during the pandemic to provide emergency rental assistance to tenants who struggled to pay rent and therefore faced eviction due to financial difficulties caused by the pandemic.

Despite having no ownership or management responsibilities for any of the properties listed in the 25 applications he submitted, Lynch requested nearly $400,000 in emergency federal funding.  His fraudulent applications resulted in 11 checks, totaling $144,000 being mailed to Lynch at his home in New Bern.  He faces up to 27 months in prison, if convicted.     

The NC HOPE Program administered federal COVID-19 relief funds and provided emergency rental assistance to North Carolina renters who faced eviction and homelessness during the pandemic.  The program allowed renters to submit an online application to apply for rental assistance.  If approved, the program paid the tenant’s rent, in checks sent directly to the landlord, for up to 15 months of overdue or future rent payments.

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after the guilty plea was accepted by Chief United States District Judge Richard E. Myers.  The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; the United States Department of Treasury, Office of Inspector General; and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Haughton.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-00061.