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Sept. 13, 2013 -- Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that five individuals were charged today in a scheme to steal Yonkers Municipal Housing Authority rent payments.

Shamesha Holloway (DOB 01/16/88) of 615 Warburton Avenue, Yonkers, New York,
Shakeia Davis (DOB 11/16/84) of 26 Rollins Avenue, Yonkers, New York,
Dominique Hodges (DOB 12/23/88) of 114 Buena Vista Avenue, Yonkers, New York,
Khrystina Harris (DOB 06/21/78) of 358 Nepperhan Avenue, Yonkers, New York,

were all charged by Felony Complaint with:

  • one count of Scheme to Defraud, a class “E” Felony.

In addition, a summons to appear was issued for Tiffany James (DOB 12/03/91) of 217 Schroeder Street, Yonkers, New York, charging her with:

  • one count of Scheme to Defraud, a class “E” Felony.

Between Dec. 2011 and Aug. 2012 the defendants engaged in a scheme that stole more than six thousand dollars in rent payment money orders that tenants mailed to the Yonkers Municipal Housing Authority for payment of their subsidized part of the Section 8 housing rent.

The scheme targeted Yonkers residents, typically elderly victims, who paid their monthly rent by mailing money orders through the United States Postal Service.  The mailed money orders were stolen in transit and later cashed by various participants in the scheme.  

Their scheme came to light when tenants received second notices for payment and were able to show that in fact they had sent the money orders.

Investigators from the District Attorneys office along with the United States Postal Inspection Service and the US Housing and Urban Development investigated the thefts.

These defendants were part of a larger scheme that began with an investigation by Yonkers police.

The defendants were arrested by DA’s Investigators.

“For people living on fixed incomes, particularly the elderly, paying the rent can be the month’s biggest expense, which they can ill afford to have to pay twice. The individuals involved in these thefts had no compunction in making a challenging economic situation even more desperate for the victims of this scheme,” said District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

All were released on their own recognizance.

Their next court date is Dec. 4, 2013.

They face a maximum sentence of four years in state prison.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Fitzgerald of the Economic Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case.

 

Shamesha Holloway Shakeia Davis Dominique Hodges Khrystina Harris
Shamesha Holloway Shakeia Davis Dominique Hodges Khrystina Harris 

 

In compliance with Disciplinary Rule 7-107A of the Code of Professional Responsibility, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.