⏱ 2 min read
Jahri Asad Cunningham, 48, of Houston, Texas, was the mastermind behind a COVID rental assistance fraud ring that sought to defraud over $6.8 million in benefits. Alongside his sister, Paradise Williams, Cunningham submitted fake applications to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program in 2021 and 2022, posing as landlords seeking rental assistance for non-existent tenants in King County, Washington.
The scheme involved creating fake tenants, documents, and eviction notices to deceive the program. Cunningham personally received $344,240 in benefits, while the entire group collected over $3.3 million. The Small Business Administration (SBA) initially caught on to their scam, recognizing their applications as fake and denying them over $515,000 in funds from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program.
Cunningham’s conviction came after a four-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Seattle, where prosecutors presented evidence of the duo’s real-time text message communications, detailing their fraudulent activities. U.S. District Judge John H. Chun ordered Cunningham remanded into custody and scheduled sentencing for November 2, 2026.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a breeding ground for fraud schemes, with scammers exploiting relief programs for personal gain. Cunningham’s case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and swift action in bringing these perpetrators to justice.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Washington
- Location: WA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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