Feds: Canton Woman Pleads Guilty To Housing Subsidy Fraud

CANTON, CT — A Canton senior citizen has pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining Section 8 housing benefits for about 16 years, a crime that could land her a decade behind bars.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, said Donna Carney, 67, of Canton, pleaded guilty Wednesday before U.S. Circuit Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in Bridgeport to one count of theft of government property.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in approximately 1995, Carney began receiving Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance under the housing choice voucher program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

According to Avery, from approximately 2004 to 2019, Carney failed to report to HUD she was married to her landlord and therefore had an interest in the home in which she lived, failed to report certain others living in her home and falsely claimed unauthorized residents were live-in aides.

Merriam has scheduled a sentencing for Feb. 2, 2023, at which time Carney faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

Carney is released on $50,000 bond pending sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General for Investigations and the Canton Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry.