A former property manager at the troubled Colonial Village Apartments is now at the center of a criminal case that prosecutors say preyed on some of East Columbus's most vulnerable renters. A Franklin County grand jury on Tuesday indicted 43-year-old Sylvia Sherman, accusing her of running a scheme that allegedly rented out condemned units at the complex and diverted rent money for personal use.
Grand Jury Charges
According to a press release from the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Sherman is charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, telecommunications fraud, theft, and money laundering. Sherman, who served as the property manager at Colonial Village, allegedly rented out units that had been ordered vacant to roughly 1,300 people in 2023, many of whom were in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status. Prosecutors say those apartments were in disrepair and lacked heat, hot water, and smoke detection at the time they were leased.
Property History And Ownership
Colonial Village has long been a flashpoint for code-enforcement crackdowns and emergency relocations, and the city later re-housed many residents during a 2023 crisis, according to re-housed many residents. The complex was sold in May 2025 in a deal reported at $15.1 million by Columbus Business First, but years of violations and a court receivership had left many units condemned. Prosecutors now point to that history as the backdrop for their claim that rent payments were collected while units remained unsafe.
Alleged Lease Scam And Payments
Local reporting says Sherman allegedly issued bogus leases, took rent through Cash App, Zelle, and money orders, and then pushed those funds into personal accounts, as detailed by 10TV. The station reported that a warrant has been issued for Sherman’s arrest and that detectives are tracing financial records and documents left in the management office. Prosecutors say they intend to put those payment records and lease documents in front of a judge and jury.
City Response And Community Aid
City officials and local nonprofits moved in to secure temporary housing, legal assistance, and social services for displaced families once the unsafe units were uncovered. Earlier reporting by WOSU detailed the complex's history of contempt findings and repeated violations that left apartments unfit for habitation. Advocates say the new indictment has revived long-standing questions about oversight at Colonial Village and who ultimately profited from rent paid by some of the city’s most vulnerable residents.
Legal Next Steps
The indictment is an allegation, not proof of guilt, and Sherman is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Prosecutors say the charges carry felony exposure and that investigators will keep building their case, according to the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. For now, city agencies and aid groups remain focused on rehousing and stabilizing affected households while the criminal case moves forward.
