Rochester woman sentenced for hUD fraud

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Debra Belcer, 58, of Rochester, N.Y., who was convicted of stealing government funds, was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $22,609 by U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa J. Miller, who handled the case, stated between July 2009 and July 2011, the defendant received Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) Section 8 rent subsidy benefits. To continue receiving the benefits each year, Belcer certified to HUD that she was the only adult living in her home and was the only individual in the household earning income. The government’s investigation in fact determined that the defendant had gotten married, that her husband was earning income, and that the defendant was not reporting all of her own earned income to HUD. 

            The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development  - Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cary Rubenstein.