The former property manager for two apartment buildings in Westwood and one in Oakley is accused of stealing $40,000 in rent payments from tenants.
Bridgette Morris, of Springfield Township, was indicted May 29 on charges of theft, unauthorized use of property, tampering with records and telecommunications fraud, according to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office.
Morris, 48, worked as a property manager for Wallick Communities, a company based in New Albany, Ohio, which manages low-income and subsidized apartments.
Prosecutors say Morris’ scheme took place between September 2023 and June 2025. During that time, according to prosecutors, she accepted rent payments and deposited the money into personal bank accounts that she controlled.
The theft was discovered after tenants who had submitted rent payments to Morris received notices that they hadn’t paid rent.
Cincinnati police investigators reviewed rent payment records, checks and bank account information and determined that Morris had diverted approximately $40,000 in rent payments, according to prosecutors.
The three properties that were impacted were:
In a statement, Prosecutor Connie Pillich said the allegations represent “a serious breach of trust that … created unnecessary hardship.”
“Tenants should never have to fear losing their housing because someone entrusted with managing their rent payments chose greed ahead of their responsibilities,” she said.
Wallick Communities has credited tenants affected by the scheme for their payments, Pillich said.
Reached by phone on May 29, Morris declined to comment.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ex-property manager accused of stealing $40K in rent money
Reporting by Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
