A Tallahassee woman has been charged with dozens of federal counts tied to an alleged $378,000 fraud scheme involving the Tallahassee Housing Authority (THA).
Lekishaann Huggins, 45, was indicted by a federal grand jury on 39 counts, U.S. Attorney Jack Heekin of the Northern District of Florida announced in a July 30 press release. Charges include bank fraud, identity theft, money laundering and false tax filings, according to federal prosecutors.
An indictment said Huggins was in charge of the Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8. Paid for by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), it helps low-income families, older adults and people with disabilities afford private housing.
“After receiving fraudulently obtained funds from THA, (she) withdrew some of the proceeds in cash and transferred some of the proceeds between her bank accounts,” the indictment said.
“Huggins ultimately spent the fraudulently obtained funds to sustain her luxurious lifestyle, which included taking vacations, buying luxury apparel and jewelry, and having a celebrity chef cater her private Christmas party … As a result of her scheme to defraud, Huggins received over $378,000 in fraudulently obtained HUD and THA funds ….”
This latest case comes weeks after a Tallahassee Police Department investigation into the city’s handling of a $4.4 million HUD grant to remediate lead contamination at a south-side apartment complex found evidence of ‘questionable’ actions but no signs of criminal conduct.
That investigation grew out of allegations of fraud involving the city’s Healthy Homes Tallahassee initiative, funded through the HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard and Healthy Homes.
The federal agency is demanding the city of Tallahassee reimburse $1.03 million in grant money it received for its troubled program to remove lead paint from low-income residences. The city has appealed the decision.
The Tallahassee City Commission has oversight authority of the Tallahassee Housing Authority through its appointment process.
“The Tallahassee Housing Authority is governed by a volunteer seven-person Board of Commissioners; appointed by the City of Tallahassee Commission,” its website said. “Through formal adoption of policy, they ensure that the Authority is fiscally responsible and operates in an efficient manner.”
Huggins made her initial appearance and was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee. Her trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 8, before Chief U.S. District Judge Allen C. Winsor. Huggins is represented by the Federal Public Defender’s Office.
If convicted, Huggins faces up to 30 years in prison on each bank fraud count, a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence on the aggravated identity theft charge, up to 10 years on each money laundering count and up to three years on each count of filing a false tax return, the release said. She also could be ordered to pay restitution and forfeit assets.
The case was investigated by the HUD’s Office of Inspector General. Federal prosecutors said the investigation is part of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, an initiative launched by President Donald Trump that targets fraud, waste and abuse in federal benefit programs.
Jeff Burlew contributed. Jim Rosica can be reached at jrosica@tallahassee.com. Follow him on X.com: @JimRosicaFL.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee Housing Authority fraud case tops $378,000, feds say
Reporting by Jim Rosica, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jim Rosica, Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
