HRA Approved Approximately 94 of the fraudulent applications
Nadia I. Shihata, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced the arrests yesterday, Wednesday, November 4, 2026, of three defendants on charges of allegedly submitting 170 fraudulent One Shot Deal applications — approximately 94 of which were approved by the New York City Human Resources Administration (“HRA”). As alleged in the criminal complaint, the defendants participated in a conspiracy to submit fraudulent One Shot Deal applications that caused HRA to send checks to entities that were supposedly New York City landlords and/or property managers, but were in fact sham entities and false personas created and controlled by the defendants. In connection with the One Shot Deal Scheme, HRA issued approximately $1.1 million in rental assistance payments to bank accounts that were controlled by two of the defendants who had allegedly falsely represented, and caused the third defendant and other co-conspirators to represent to HRA that the bank accounts belonged to landlords and property managers of distressed tenants in need of public assistance. DOI investigated this matter with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, which is prosecuting the case and the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”).
ERICA WILLIAMS, 39, of Union, NJ, KAREEM CANTY, 33, of East Orange, NJ, and TAJIZHANAE WHITAKER, 29, of Dacula, GA are each charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft. Upon conviction, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, Wire Fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and Aggravated Identity Theft carries a mandatory minimum of two years in prison. WILLIAMS and CANTY were each arrested in New Jersey and presented in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Wednesday evening. Each were arraigned and released on $50,000 bond. WHITAKER was arrested in Georgia on Wednesday and remains in custody in that state awaiting her initial appearance.
DOI Commissioner Nadia I. Shihata said, “The City’s One Shot Deal program provides critical financial assistance to eligible, low-income New Yorkers unable to pay their rent and trying to avoid eviction or homelessness. As charged, these defendants allegedly manipulated sensitive personal information as well as the City’s One Shot Deal application process to fraudulently divert emergency rental assistance payments to bank accounts purportedly for eligible landlords and property managers but actually under the defendants’ control. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation for their partnership in protecting public funds intended to keep the most vulnerable New Yorkers in their homes.”
Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Executive Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI New York said, “It’s alleged the defendants exploited a program intended to assist New Yorkers facing genuine emergencies in their homes, using stolen personal information and sham landlord entities to divert more than a million dollars in public assistance. These arrests demonstrate that those who abuse vital safety-net programs for personal gain will be investigated and held accountable. We are proud to partner with the New York City Department of Investigation in protecting vital public resources and pursuing accountability for those who allegedly exploit them.”
HRA’s One Shot Deal or Emergency Assistance program offers cash help to New Yorkers who are unable to pay rent due to unexpected hardships like losing a job, receiving a pay cut, or are experiencing medical emergencies. Eligible applicants can receive rental assistance totaling up to the value of six months’ rent. Applicants must provide personal identification such as a driver’s license, passport, and/or a social security card, as well as the applicant’s landlord or property manager’s information. If the application is approved, HRA will send the rental assistance payments directly to the landlord or property manager.
According to the criminal complaint, between January 2021 through October 2025, WILLIAMS, CANTY, and WHITAKER allegedly submitted at least 170 fraudulent One Shot Deal applications to HRA. Approximately 94 of those applications were approved by HRA. WILLIAMS, CANTY, and WHITAKER allegedly provided HRA with the real names, birthdates, and social security numbers of third parties, at least some of whom had no knowledge of the defendants or the scheme. The defendants also allegedly provided false personal information, including social security numbers, driver’s licenses, and passport information, with fraudulent applications.
As alleged in the complaint, WILLIAMS organized the One Shot Deal Scheme, submitting fraudulent One Shot Deal applications to HRA, and controlling the majority of the bank accounts in which the One Shot Deal Scheme funds were deposited. In furtherance of the scheme, CANTY also allegedly submitted fraudulent One Shot Deal applications and controlled at least one bank account in which the One Shot Deal Scheme funds were deposited. WHITAKER also allegedly submitted fraudulent One Shot Deal applications and received approximately $175,773 from WILLIAMS for her participation in the scheme. WILLIAMS, CANTY, and WHITAKER, also allegedly relied on co-conspirators to submit additional One Shot Deal applications, posing falsely as distressed renters in arrears. The co-conspirators allegedly falsely represented to HRA that entities and bank accounts controlled by WILLIAMS and CANTY were their landlords or property managers in order to receive One Shot Deal payments. The names of the fake landlords and property managers included ALC Development LLC, ELA Management LLC, or HPC LLC as their landlord or property manager.
Commissioner Shihata thanked Jamie McDonald, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, for his office’s partnership on this case.
A criminal complaint is an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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