MOBILE, Ala. (FOX 10/Gray News) – Shannon Caruso, a former property manager in Mobile, Alabama, has been sentenced to 14 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to stealing rent money from government-assisted low-income housing tenants.
According to court documents, Caruso, 48, was employed as a property manager with two local housing authorities that provided affordable housing for low-income residents. During her tenure, Caruso manipulated the system by convincing renters to make their rent checks payable directly to her or to leave the payee lines blank.
Rather than depositing the checks with the housing authorities as required, Caruso stole the funds for her own use. The two housing authorities that employed Caruso were left to absorb the financial losses, though no tenants were evicted as a result of the fraudulent transactions.
The scheme was uncovered, and federal authorities pursued the case. Caruso admitted to the crime, acknowledging that she had stolen money from tenants who believed they were properly paying their rent.
Federal prosecutors noted that the stolen funds were intended to help maintain affordable housing for low-income residents, and Caruso’s actions directly undermined that mission.
Caruso’s sentencing serves as a reminder of the importance of ethical conduct in positions of trust, especially when it comes to managing housing programs designed to serve vulnerable communities.
She is now facing the consequences of her actions and will serve 14 months in federal prison.
This case highlights the vulnerability of government-assisted housing systems to fraudulent behavior and the need for continuous oversight to protect both tenants and the integrity of such programs.
