Massachusetts AG Pinches Couple In Alleged Ripoff Of Tens Of Thousand$ Of Federal Public Housing Subsidies

In Weston, Massachusetts, The Metrowest Daily News reports:

• A Weston couple has been indicted in connection with fraudulently obtaining tens of thousands of dollars in Section 8 public housing subsidies, and defrauding mortgage lenders of more than $250,000, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced [...].



• Paulo Montenegro, 45, and his wife, Rosana Pereira, 48, were each indicted on charges of larceny by false pretense (three counts) and conspiracy to commit larceny by false pretense (three counts), in connection with fraudulently obtaining Section 8 public housing benefits and fraudulently obtaining mortgage loans from financial lending institutions.

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• The Section 8 Public Housing program is a government program that provides safe and affordable rental housing for eligible low-income families. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers federal aid to local housing authorities, including the Cambridge Housing Authority, to manage housing for low-income residents at rents they can afford.



• Authorities allege that Montenegro and Pereira misrepresented material information to the Cambridge Housing Authority and HUD to obtain the benefit of Section 8 public housing subsidies. According to authorities, Pereira, in conspiracy with Montenegro, under-reported her income and assets, and reported that she was unmarried, when in fact she was married to and living with Montenegro in Weston.

For more, see Weston couple indicted in connection with Section 8 fraud.