Mathis Lemons, Bribes, Massachusetts 2016

Mathis Lemons, a 42-year-old resident of Brockton, Massachusetts, has been sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a scheme to rent apartments at the Roxse Homes housing development in Boston to individuals who were not qualified in exchange for cash bribes.

According to the investigation, Lemons, who was the assistant property manager at Roxse Homes, conspired with his co-defendant, Ismael Morales, to add unqualified individuals to the Roxse Homes computerized waitlist and falsely input their application dates. Morales, who worked as a maintenance technician, solicited and accepted money from individuals and provided them with blank rental applications.

The scheme took place from September 2014 to February 2015, during which time there was a shortage of federally subsidized Section 8 housing in Massachusetts. Roxse Homes maintained a long waitlist of applicants desiring apartments in the complex.

Lemons pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and seven counts of corrupt receipt of payments by a federally funded organization in May 2016. Morales also pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced to two years in prison in August 2016.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristina E. Barclay and Eugenia M. Carris of Ortiz’s Public Corruption Unit. United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, New York Regional Office, Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, Glenn A. Cunha, Inspector General of Massachusetts, and Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans made the announcement.

Lemons was ordered to pay forfeiture of $18,300 as part of his sentence. The Roxse Homes waitlist had been closed to external applicants since 2009.

The investigation highlighted the corruption and abuse of power within the housing development, where individuals were willing to pay cash bribes to secure apartments that were meant for low-income families and individuals. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in public institutions.

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