Purported Landlord Defrauded HUD's Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of theft of government property, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Julio Raf Antomachi, III, 27, of Pittsburgh, PA, pleaded guilty to one felony count before Chief United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that under the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, Antomachi fraudulently received federal housing subsidy monies as a purported landlord of a property located in Pittsburgh, PA. From February 2010 through February 2015, Antomachi wrongfully converted $43,054.00 in federal housing subsidy monies.

Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for Jan. 22, 2016, at 10 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of ten (10) years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pending sentence, the court released Antomachi bond.

Assistant United States Attorney Mary McKeen Houghton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, conducted the investigation leading to the Information in this case.