NYCHA Tenant Caught Stealing $12,530 From City

Rose Gill Hearn, commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), announced the arrest of Renette Moore, a former tenant of the New York City Housing Authority's (NYCHA) Ravenswood Houses in Astoria for failing to report to NYCHA that her husband lived with her and his salary. As a result, over nearly three years, Moore's rent was reduced by $12,530 and she vacated her NYCHA apartment without leaving a forwarding address.

On May 21 Moore, 37, surrendered to authorities and was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class D felony; three counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, and three counts of Falsifying Business Records in the first Degree, both class E felonies. If convicted, she faces up to seven years in prison.

DOI Commissioner Hearn said, "This individual is accused of receiving thousands of dollars off her rent, a reduction she did not deserve. Last week, DOI arrested six others in similar offenses against the city's housing authority. Those who choose to participate in this type of criminal conduct should be aware they face possible prison time."

DOI investigators determined that Moore's husband, a former New York city Correction's Officer from 2001 to 2003 and a New York City Police Officer from 2003 to 2005 earned up to $49,808 annually, lived with Moore unbeknownst to NYCHA. On the yearly Affidavits of Income Moore submitted to NYCHA for 2002 to 2005, she only listed herself and her two daughters as the occupants with a household income consisting solely of public assistance.

Moore is one of seven individuals arrested by DOI for allegedly defrauding NYCHA by concealing their household incomes in order to either receive reduced rent or to receive Section 8 benefits for which they were not entitled.

The following individuals were charged last week with the same charges as Moore:

Angela Pennicooke, 50, former Section 8 recipient, accused of defrauding NYCHA out of $34,888.

Khadija Ahmad, 59, a resident in Pomonok Houses in Flushing, allegedly defrauded NYCHA $30,869.

Nivea Cloud, 31, a Section 8 recipient in Queens Village, allegedly defrauded NYCHA $20,722.

Wyasia Fulcher, 31, a Section 8 recipient in Jamaica, Queens, allegedly defrauded NYCHA $19,405.

Regina Wise, 43, a resident in Queensbridge North Houses, Long Island City, allegedly defrauded NYCHA $16,663.

Gregory Bruno, 49, a Baisley Park Houses resident Jamaica, Queens, allegedly defrauded NYCHA $15,157.

The investigations were conducted by NYCHA Inspector General Robert J. McSweeney and members of his staff, including Senior Deputy Inspectors General Kevin Smith and Irene Serrapica, Deputy Inspector General Bergia Telesford, First Assistant Inspector General James Hylton, Assistant Inspectors General Rosemary Caruso and April Mastrangelo, Chief Investigator Christopher France, Special Investigators Patricia Carvajal and Virginia Arana, Confidential Investigators Lia J. Pasichow and Luciana Pace and Deputy Counsel Laureen Hintz.

The office of Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown is prosecuting the cases. Assistant DA Rosemary Buccheri, under the supervision of Gregory Pavlides, Economic Crimes Bureau, is handling the prosecutions.

Criminal complaints are merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

DOI is one of the oldest law-enforcement agencies in the country. The agency investigates and refers for prosecution city employees and contractors engaged in corrupt or fraudulent activities or unethical conduct. Investigations may involve any agency, officer, elected official or employee of the city, as well as those who do business with or receive benefits from the city.

To report something, call 311 or DOI at 212-825-5959.