A New Bern man has admitted to defrauding a North Carolina COVID-19 relief program by posing as a landlord in order to collect rent assistance payments. 35-year-old Anthony Lynch pleaded guilty on mail fraud charges for falsely claiming to be the landlord of properties in various counties and submitted multiple fraudulent applications to the North Carolina Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions Program (NC HOPE), according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
"Mr. Lynch exploited a taxpayer-funded program meant to support struggling families and individuals trying to stay in their homes during an unprecedented global pandemic," U.S. Attorney Michael Easley was quoted on U.S. Attorney's Office. Despite not having ownership or management responsibilities for the properties he claimed, Lynch managed to receive 11 checks that amounted to nearly $150,000. He had initially sought close to $400,000 through as many as 25 separate relief applications.
The NC HOPE Program was a critical safety net created to assist renters facing eviction due to pandemic-related financial challenges. The program facilitated online applications for tenants to secure assistance for overdue or future rent for up to 15 months, which was directly paid to landlords. It was part of the federal COVID-19 relief efforts aimed at curbing homelessness and maintaining housing stability during the health crisis.
Easley's announcement came after Lynch's guilty plea was accepted by Chief United States District Judge Richard E. Myers. The investigation was a combined effort involving the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; the United States Department of Treasury, Office of Inspector General; and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Haughton is prosecuting the case. Lynch now faces up to 27 months in prison, if convicted for his actions.
More details on the court documents and information related to the case are available on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-00061 on PACER.
