Nadia I. Shihata, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced the arrest of a Brooklyn woman on charges relating to her use of false documents to obtain New York State-funded affordable housing. DOI’s investigation was prompted by another investigation, which led to an arrest last year of another individual on charges of selling forgeries used in affordable housing applications. This arrest is being prosecuted by the office of Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
ADINA HODGES, 37, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was charged today with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree and Perjury in the Second Degree, which are class E felonies. Upon conviction, a class E felony is punishable by up to four years in prison. HODGES was arraigned today and released on her own recognizance. Her next court date is scheduled for October 8, 2026.
DOI Commissioner Nadia I. Shihata said, “According to the charges, this defendant allegedly used false information to apply for and receive affordable housing. Affordable housing is a scarce resource that is compromised when it is exploited by fraud. I am committed to protecting the integrity of affordable housing and ensuring that this resource is available to those who qualify for it. I thank District Attorney Gonzalez for his partnership in this important work.”
According to the criminal complaint, HODGES allegedly provided false information relating to her income and employment in documents submitted to an affordable housing management company in Brooklyn, which is an agent for the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal. Specifically, she submitted a “Reaffirmation of Income” form on July 2, 2021, attesting, under the penalty of perjury, that a “Tenant Income Certification” form she submitted on June 24, 2021, was true and accurate. The investigation determined that statement was materially false as the various support documents the defendant provided, including bank records, pay stubs and an employment verification letter, were fraudulent. Pursuant to a search warrant, the investigation found that the defendant was in contact via email with Rodney Billings, who was a defendant in an earlier affordable housing investigation. HODGES communicated with Billings regarding the procurement of fraudulent bank records, pay stubs and an employment verification letter and paid Billings to receive those falsified documents.
Commissioner Shihata thanked Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez for his and his staff’s partnership on this investigation. Assistant District Attorney Peter Choi in the District Attorney’s Public Integrity Bureau is handling the prosecution. Commissioner Shihata also thanked HDC President Eric Enderlin and his staff for their cooperation in this investigation.
A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
No comments:
Post a Comment