Alicia Gardner, Embezzlement, Connecticut 2021

Former Property Manager Sentenced to Prison for Stealing from Federally Subsidized Housing Complexes

In a shocking case of financial mismanagement, former property manager Alicia GARDNER, 51, of Griswold, has been sentenced to eight months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzling money from federally subsidized housing complexes that she had managed.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Gardner was employed by Garden Homes Management Corporation with responsibilities that included managing the Salem Village I and II housing complexes in Brooklyn, Connecticut, and the St. Mary’s housing complex in East Hartford. The housing complexes principally catered to elderly and disabled citizens receiving federal rental subsidies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Gardner pleaded guilty to embezzling money from the housing complexes between approximately 2009 and 2018, diverting rental payments and other tenant fees to a separate account she had set up for cable fees. She then diverted those payments to pay more than $400,000 in personal expenses. In addition, Gardner overcharged tenants a total of more than $60,000 for cable expenses, which increased the amount of money available to be diverted.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Novick.

Judge Victor A. Bolden ordered Gardner to pay $501,656.17 in restitution. Gardner, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on January 3, 2022.

The case highlights the importance of accountability in managing federally subsidized housing complexes. It serves as a reminder that financial mismanagement can have severe consequences, not only for the individuals involved but also for the communities they serve.

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