Cape Coral Woman Pleads Guilty To 18-Year Conspiracy To Steal Government Assistance Funds

Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Rose Ann Labarbera (61, Cape Coral) has pleaded guilty to theft of government funds involving the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV). She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. 

According to the plea agreement, from at least January 1997 through November 2012, Labarbera posed as her husband’s (Ronald Raiola) landlord in order for Raiola to receive HUD HCV housing assistance subsidies to which they were not entitled. Labarbera took steps to conceal Raiola's true identity in order to continue receiving HUD funds. She also submitted, and caused to be submitted to HUD, documents containing material misrepresentations and false statements. 

Labarbera and Raiola concealed their marital relationship, income, assets, and ownership interests in residential properties in New York and Florida from HUD so that Raiola could continue to receive HCV Program housing assistance subsidiaries.

Raiola is scheduled for trial in June 2016.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development - Office of Inspector General, and the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Lee County Sherriff’s Office’s Economic Crimes and Special Operations Units, the City of Fort Myers Housing Authority, the New York City Housing Authority, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David G. Lazarus.