Clarksville Man Indicted For Making False Statements To Obtain Subsidized Housing Benefits

Joseph Fulmore, Jr., 45, of Clarksville, Tenn., was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for making false statements in order to obtain public housing benefits, announced U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin of the Middle District of Tennessee.

            According to the indictment, on July 6, 2012, Fulmore made application to lease a public housing unit, operated and maintained by the Clarksville Housing Authority (CHA).  Federal regulations mandate that applicants for public housing complete an application for admission and continued occupancy as part of an eligibility determination process, which includes disclosing all income, earnings and assets of individuals living in the unit.

            The indictment alleges that also in July 2012, Fulmore applied for and obtained an FHA loan to purchase a single family home.  The loan application for this property listed income and assets not previously reported to the CHA, including a monthly beneficiary payment in the amount of approximately $2,800.00.

            Fulmore subsequently purchased and moved to the single family home and lived there until April 2014, when foreclosure proceedings were initiated against this property.  During this time, the indictment alleges that Fulmore continued to make the reduced rental payments for the public housing unit and resumed living there after the foreclosure, until August 2016.

            Finally, the indictment alleges that for each of the three subsequent years that Fulmore received the public housing benefits, he submitted annual certifications to the CHA, which falsely reported and concealed his true assets and household income, which allowed him to fraudulently receive a subsidized public housing unit to which he was not entitled.

            If convicted, Fulmore faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

            This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie N. Toussaint is prosecuting the case.

            An indictment is merely an accusation.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.