East Chicago Man Indicted for Using Counterfeit Securities to Defraud Gary Housing Authority

HAMMOND- Acting United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson announced an indictment charging Ashley D. Dunlap, 54, of East Chicago, Indiana with two counts of uttering a counterfeit security.

The indictment alleges, in July 2013, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approved federal funding for building renovations at the Delaney and Dorie Miller public housing projects operated by Gary Housing Authority (GHA). Dunlap’s construction company was awarded the project, worth $347,500. The successful bidder was required to provide a surety. Dunlap purported to provide the surety – in the form a 20% cash escrow – to GHA on or about September 3, 2013 with two counterfeit instruments purporting to be Chase Bank cashier’s checks in the amounts of $20,000 and $49,600.

The United States Attorney’s office emphasizes that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons are presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in court.

If convicted, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

This indictment resulted from an investigation conducted by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. This case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Lerner and Abizer Zanzi.

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