Sioux City Woman Sentenced for Making False Statements

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that Melissa S. Edwards, 41, of Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for Making False Statements to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The Honorable Laurie Smith Camp sentenced Edwards to 1 year and 1 day in prison.  There is no parole in the federal system.  After her release from prison, Edwards will begin a three-year term of supervised release.  Edwards was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $179,118.55.

Melissa Edwards managed the Canterbury Apartments in South Sioux City, Nebraska.  The complex was owned by a management company in Maine.  The complex offered Section 8 housing subsidized by HUD.  Between October 2011 and continuing into October 2013, Edwards embezzled $169,924 from the management company which included more than $100,000 of funds derived from HUD.  To accomplish her theft and conceal her crime Edwards created false applications and recertifications.  The recertifications would decrease the tenant’s income thus increasing the subsidy.  The tenant was unaware of the recertification and Edwards would convert the increased subsidies to her own use.  False applications were submitted using the names of relatives and friends.