An Alabama Woman Has Been Sent to Prison After She Confessed to Stealing Rent Money From Low-income Renters

On January 10, Shannon Caruso, a 48-year-old woman from Alabama, was sentenced to 14 months in federal jail for stealing rent payments intended for government-assisted low-income housing after she pleaded guilty. Caruso was a property manager for two government housing bodies that offered affordable housing to low-income people. She took advantage of her position to cheat renters in the area.

Court papers show that Caruso tricked renters into making their rent checks payable to her or leaving the payee line empty. Caruso took the rent money for herself instead of giving it to the housing officials. Even after the theft, the two housing authorities decided to cover the losses and did not evict renters who thought they were paying their rent correctly.

In a court meeting, U.S. District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer criticized Caruso for her actions, highlighting the serious harm her theft inflicted on people who were already struggling financially. Judge Moorer said, “Her selfish crimes probably hurt innocent people who were already struggling financially.” Caruso was given a 14-month sentence in federal prison, which is the longest time suggested by the standards for her case.

Lead Special Agent Jerome Winkle with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG) also spoke out about the case: “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. HUD OIG will keep working with law enforcement to find and hold responsible those who take advantage of vulnerable people in our community.

Sean P. Costello, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, agreed that Caruso’s act was especially serious. “Stealing rent money from those in need was a very serious crime that led this thief to a federal prison sentence.” We will work with law officials to make sure that anyone who takes advantage of the people in South Alabama is held responsible.