ST. LOUIS, MO – Semaj Portis, 42, of St. Louis County, traded on the desperation of a nation reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, pleading guilty Monday to wire fraud after bilking emergency rental assistance programs out of $267,239. The scheme involved fabricating landlord status and submitting bogus leases to claim funds meant for those truly struggling to keep a roof over their heads.
According to court documents and Portis’s own admission, she established a company called Forever Riding on January 15, 2021, and immediately began filing fraudulent applications with the Missouri Housing Development Commission. Over the following nine months, she submitted 52 applications, falsely identifying herself – or her shell company – as the landlord for tenants who had no connection to her. Portis wasn’t a landlord for any of the individuals named in her applications, investigators confirmed.
The money wasn’t used to help anyone but herself. Portis, a former nurse and medical dispatcher, splurged on vacations, purchased real estate, and funded other personal expenses with the stolen funds. While families were facing eviction and hardship, she was living it up on the backs of a vital assistance program. The brazenness of the scheme is particularly galling, officials say.
U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming minced no words, stating, “Financial fraud is particularly egregious when it takes advantage of programs intended to help victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our office and law enforcement have been aggressively investigating and prosecuting these cases.” The investigation was a joint effort between the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, highlighting the severity of the crime.
Portis now faces a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years, a fine of $250,000, or both. She’s scheduled to be sentenced on August 26 before United States District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig, at which time she will also be ordered to fully repay the $267,239 she stole. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who prey on emergency assistance programs will be held accountable.
Anyone with information regarding rental assistance fraud is encouraged to contact the FBI at tips@fbi.gov or (314) 589-2500. The feds are actively seeking to dismantle these schemes and bring perpetrators to justice. Don’t become another victim – report suspicious activity immediately.
Related Federal Cases
- Cristopher Cristea, Mining Fraud Scheme, St. Louis MO, 2023 · Texas
- Camille Childress, Medicaid Scam, St. Louis MO, 2021 · Texas
- Albert Davis, Wire Fraud, Kansas City, MO, 2023 · Kansas
- Russell Hopkins, Securities Fraud Conspiracy, Kansas City MO, 2023 · Kansas
- Jevon M. Jenkins, Aiding and Abetting Kidnapping, East St. Louis IL… · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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