June 23, 2006
DA Rice Works with HUD to Arrest 16
Defendants accused of receiving over $200k in fraudulent housing assistance
MINEOLA, NY - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that charges have been filed against sixteen defendants accused of stealing in excess of $209,000 from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The arrests are the result of an on-going joint investigation between the Nassau County District Attorney's Office and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General. District Attorney Rice would like to thank Special Agent In Charge Ruth A. Ritzema for the participation by the agents from her office, which was essential to the success of this investigation.
All charges stem from falsifying and concealing documents regarding their income to HUD in order to receive housing assistance benefits.
“There are people in real need of these benefits in our communities,” said Rice.“ When you cheat the system you are not only stealing from the taxpayers, but you're denying someone in need the ability to provide for themselves and their families.”
Pernell Williams, 51, and Rita Devone Williams, 42, have been charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class C Felony. Rita Devone Williams has also been charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a Class E Felony. Gregorio Suero, 52, and Altagracia Suero, 47, have been charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony, and Offering a False instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a Class E Felony. Nathan Janoff, 60, and Alexander Arco, 56, have been charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony, and Alexander Arco has also been charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony. Nory Villalona, 46, Regina Mosley, 40, Dewitt Reid, 76, Ola Bailey, 59, Charlene Simmons, 39, Stacey Patterson, 41, Oilyski Williams, 52, Felice Russell, 38, Debra Outlaw, 35, and Marisol Cruz, 34, have each been charged individually with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony, and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a Class E Felony.
It is alleged that between July, 2001 and March, 2006, Mr. and Mrs. Williams, of Freeport, fraudulently received $68,746 in public housing assistance by concealing the fact that Mr. Williams was in the household and employed.
Between March, 2002 and February, 2004, it is alleged that Mr. and Mrs. Suero, of Oceanside, wrongfully received $18,669 in public housing assistance from HUD by falsely claiming that Mr. Suero was an employee of Woodfield Grocery, when he was an owner of the business and had substantially more income than they reported.
Ms. Villalona, of Hempstead, fraudulently received $25,576 in housing subsidies from HUD by allegedly claiming that her only employment was a housecleaning job and failing to reveal that she was also earning over $35,000 a year in a second job.
Ms. Mosley, of Hempstead, allegedly failed to reveal that she was earning more than $20,000 per year in a second job in order to obtain $22,056 in Section 8 benefits from HUD.
It is alleged that Mr. Reid, of Freeport, fraudulently concealed his employment as a night-shift security guard from July, 2001 to December, 2005, thereby receiving $19,177 in public housing benefits from HUD to which he was not entitled. Section 8 benefits from HUD to which she was not entitled.
Between July, 2001 and December, 2004, Ms. Bailey, of Stockbridge, Georgia, allegedly failed to reveal that she was employed at a second job earning over $20,000 more per year. She received $11,883 in
Section 8 benefits from HUD to which she was not entitled.
Ms. Simmons, of Hempstead, failed to reveal her true income from January, 2002 through June, 2005, thereby fraudulently receiving $9,995 in federal housing assistance from HUD.
It is alleged that Ms. Patterson, of Amityville, failed to report her income and additional income earned by a family member from August, 2001 through December, 2003. This resulted in the defendant receiving $9,687 in public housing assistance to which she was not entitled.
Between November, 2002 and May, 2005, Oilyski Williams, of Hempstead, allegedly failed to reveal all of her income, thereby wrongfully receiving $7,120 in housing assistance benefits.
Mr. Arco and Mr. Janoff, who is Mr. Arco’s landlord, both reside in Long Beach, allegedly conspired to conceal Mr. Arco’s income as a tailor between April, 2005 and December, 2005. This resulted in the two defendants receiving $5,628 from HUD to which they were not entitled.
It is alleged that Ms. Russell, of Rockville Centre, fraudulently obtained $4,536 from HUD between the months of May, 2004 and July, 2005 as a result of claiming that she had lost her job when she was employed full-time.
Ms. Outlaw, of Amityville, applied for a federally subsidized apartment and then sublet it to another person between the months of January, 2002 and December, 2005. HUD paid the defendant $3,779 due to the defendant’s fraud. Ms. Outlaw kept the rent she charged the sub-tenant during this period.
Between January, 2002 and December, 2005, Ms. Cruz, of Hempstead, allegedly concealed her employment as a dental assistant from the Hempstead Village Housing Authority and obtained over $3,000 in housing assistance from HUD to which she was not entitled.
The defendants were arraigned yesterday in First District Court, Hempstead. Assistant District Attorney Stephani Meister, of the Government and Consumer Frauds Bureau, with be handling the cases for the District Attorney’s Office.
The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Name: Pernell Williams
Age: 51
Address: Freeport, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 2°
Name: Rita Devone Williams
Age: 42
Address: Freeport, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 2°, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1°
Name: Gregorio Suero
Age: 52
Address: Oceanside, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1°
Name: Altagracia Suero
Age: 47
Address: Oceanside, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1°
Name: Nory Villalona
Age: 46
Address: Hempstead, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1°
Name: Regina Mosley
Age: 40
Address: Hempstead, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1°
Name: Dewitt Reid
Age: 76
Address: Freeport, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1°
Name: Ola Bailey
Age: 59
Address: Stockbridge, GA
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1°
Name: Charlene Simmons
Age: 39
Address: Hempstead, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1°
Name: Stacey Patterson
Age: 41
Address: Amityville, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1°
Name: Oilyski Williams
Age: 52
Address: Hempstead, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1°
Name: Alexander Arco
Age: 56
Address: Long Beach, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1°
Name: Nathan Janoff
Age: 60
Address: Long Beach, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°
Name: Felice Russell
Age: 38
Address: Rockville Centre, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1°
Name: Debra Outlaw
Age: 35
Address: Amityville, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1°
Name: Marisol Cruz
Age: 34
Address: Hempstead, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 3°, Offering a False Instrument for Filing 1°
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