An immigrant from Russia is accused of stealing more than $ 340: he did fraud with rent in San Francisco

A resident of San Francisco (California), an immigrant from Russia Grigory Finkelson, is accused of stealing more than $ 340. He used the method of fraud with the Section 000 housing benefits program. This is stated on the website US Department of Justice.

Photo: IStock

Finkelson is accused of conspiracy, theft of property and money laundering.

According to the indictment, between August 2006 and February 2020, Finkelson, 63, stole approximately $341 in Section 455 rental assistance. and for which he received Section 8 vouchers, as well as being the owner and president of a company called American Corporate Services (ACS). All this the defendant did in order to qualify for Section 8 benefits.

For example, Finkelson told housing authorities that he earned $2015 a year as a notary public at ACS from 2017 to 12. In fact, he was the president and sole owner of ACS, a company that earned $2,8 million in gross revenue from 2013 to 2018.

On the subject: Putin's secret mother: Russian president may not be Russian, but Georgian

Section 8, funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is a rent subsidy for low-income families seeking housing.

Those eligible for Section 8 assistance are those whose family income does not exceed 80% of the median income for the region. However, a tenant who owns an ownership interest in a rental unit is not eligible to participate in the program, and tenants must universally report their income and assets. In San Francisco, the Section 8 HUD program is administered by the local Housing Authority (SFHA).

Finkelson, according to the indictment, worked with an accomplice in Russia to cover up the fact that he owned the house he lived in. The scammer opened numerous bank accounts in the name of his accomplice to hide the fact that he received and controlled Section 8 payments.

In addition, Finkelson divided the house in which he lived with his family into three parts: he lived in one apartment, his business worked in the second, and rented out a third.

Finkelson funneled rent payments from all three apartments into accounts he controlled and paid personal expenses from those accounts using rental income.

For example, from January 2018 to February 2020, at the direction of Finkelson, the SFHA transferred Section 8 funds to an account with Wells Fargo Bank. Finkelson paid for personal expenses with funds from this account. According to the indictment, Finkelson made payments while on vacation in Maui, Hawaii, in part from Section 8 funds.

Thus, Finkelson is charged with conspiracy, theft of government property and three counts of money laundering.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

Defendant's initial appearance in federal court in San Francisco has not yet been scheduled.

If found guilty, Finkelson faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and a $250 fine plus restitution for conspiracy; 000 years in prison and a fine of $10 plus restitution for theft of public property and 250 years in prison, a fine of $000 or double the value of laundered funds, and restitution for money laundering.

In addition, the court may order an additional period of supervised release after imprisonment as part of any sentence.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Salary vs expenses: how much do residents of different states of America earn and spend

Fraudsters steal personal medical data and are treated at your expense: how not to become a victim of fraud

A bag accessory for $17 will protect your luggage from loss and help you quickly find your suitcase at the airport

Which states have the best school education?

From the USA to Israel: Myths and Truth about Medicine in Developed Countries

How to validate a foreign diploma, degree, or professional certificate in the United States

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.