Prison Time For Canton Woman Who Stole Money From Feds: Authorities

BRIDGEPORT/CANTON, CT — A Canton woman will spend a month behind bars for fraud linked to federal housing subsidies.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. attorney for Connecticut, announced that Donna Carney, 67, of Canton, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. Circuit Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in Bridgeport to one month of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in approximately 1995, Carney began receiving Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance under HUD’s housing choice voucher program.

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

The attorney said Merriam ordered Carney to pay $33,594.

On Oct. 12, 2022, Carney pleaded guilty to theft of government property.

Carney, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison June 29.

This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General for Investigations and the Canton Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry.