A Mobile woman has been sentenced to 14 months in federal prison for stealing rent money intended for government-assisted low-income housing. Shannon Caruso, aged 48, was found guilty of defrauding renters while employed as a property manager by two government housing authorities in the Mobile area.
Court documents revealed that Caruso convinced renters to make checks payable to her or leave the payee line blank. Instead of depositing these funds with her employer, she used the money for personal gain. The housing authorities covered the financial losses and did not evict tenants who believed they were paying rent correctly.
U.S. District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer described Caruso's actions as "utterly selfish," noting their impact on individuals already facing financial challenges. He sentenced her to 14 months in prison, aligning with the higher end of advisory guidelines.
Special Agent-in-Charge Jerome Winkle from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Inspector General stated, “Shannon Caruso admitted to using her position as a property manager to exploit the vulnerability of elderly and low-income individuals by stealing their monthly Housing Choice Voucher rent payments and depositing them into her personal bank account.” He assured continued efforts to hold accountable those who exploit vulnerable community members.
Sean P. Costello, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, commented on the severity of Caruso's crime: “Stealing the rent money of vulnerable victims was a particularly egregious way for this crook to earn her sentence in federal prison.”
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General, Birmingham Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice Blackwood prosecuting on behalf of the United States.