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Big Freedia, New Orleans Rapper, Sentenced for Section 8 Fraud
U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that Freddie Ross Jr., aka Big Freedia, was sentenced to 3 years probation, including 100 hours of unpaid community service, for theft of government funds in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Ross, 38, was ordered to pay $34,849 in restitution to the Housing Authority – New Orleans (HANO) and fined $35,000.
According to court documents, Ross falsely listed his income and assets on his Section 8 application and recertification documents, resulting in him receiving approximately $34,849 in Section 8 funds between January 2010 and November 2014. The funds were provided through the Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as the Section 8 Program.
The Section 8 program was created to subsidize the rents of low-income citizens, the elderly, and the disabled. Participants pay part of their rents, an amount equal to 30% of the household’s income, and the federal government directly pays the landlords the remainder.
Ross first applied for Section 8 benefits in March 2009, listing his monthly income as between $100 and $1,000. He submitted recertification documents to HANO on a yearly basis through 2014, falsely listing his annual income and assets.
U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced Ross to 3 years’ probation, including 100 hours of unpaid community service, and ordered him to pay $34,849 in restitution to HANO and a fine of $35,000.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Housing Authority of New Orleans and Josephine Beninati, CPA, CFE, who identified the true sources and amount of Ross’s income. Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg and Maria Carboni were in charge of the prosecution.
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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