BOSTON, MA — A former Holliston, Massachusetts resident, Yvonette Joseph, was arrested this week for allegedly defrauding a federal COVID-19 rental assistance program of more than $100,000.
Joseph, 45, now residing in Minneapolis, was taken into custody on August 26 and charged with theft of government money, according to federal authorities. She made her initial court appearance in Minnesota and is scheduled to appear in Boston at a later date.
The charges are related to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, a federal initiative launched in 2021 to help low-income renters impacted by the pandemic.
Court records allege that Joseph was falsely listed as a landlord for a property in Los Angeles by applicants who then received rental funds from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. After receiving the money, authorities say Joseph wired part of the funds to a bank account in Nigeria and used the remaining amount for personal expenses.
If convicted, Joseph faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or double the amount stolen.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney, with the U.S. Treasury Office of Inspector General handling the investigation.
