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

Joseph Fulmore, Jr., 45, of Clarksville, Tenn., was sentenced today to serve three years on federal probation and to pay $17,210.70 in restitution for making false statements in order to obtain public housing benefits, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran of the Middle District of Tennessee.  Chief U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw, Jr., also ordered Fulmore to perform 120 hours of community service.

Fulmore was indicted on September 20, 2017, and pleaded guilty on February 2, 2018.

According to court records, 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.

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. During this time, Fulmore continued to make the reduced rental payments for the public housing unit.

Court records also reflect 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 the subsidized public housing unit.

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 prosecuted the case.