Woman Cops Plea For Pocketing $30K+ In Section 8 Rental Housing Benefits While Purporting To Be Tenant In House She Actually Owned

From the Office of the U.S. Attorney (Rochester, New York):

• U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced [] that Lavonya Bess, 59, of Jacksonville, Florida, pleaded guilty to theft of public money before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
  
  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Lee, who is handling the case, stated that between October 2006 and October 2010, while she was residing in the Western District of New York, the defendant applied for and received United States Department of Housing and Urban Developement (HUD) Section 8 benefits to assist her with rent.
  
  In her application, Bess claimed to be the tenant of a residence located on Flanders Street in the City of Rochester when in fact, she was the owner of the residence.
  
  The defendant converted over $30,000 in Section 8 housing benefits for her own use to which she was not entitled.

For the U.S. Attorney press release, see Former Rochester Woman Pleads Guilty To Theft Of Funds.