CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – A Clarksville man was indicted this week by a federal grand jury for making false statements in order to obtain public housing benefits, according to U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin of the Middle District of Tennessee.
According to the indictment, on July 6, 2012, Joseph Fulmore, Jr., 45, made an application to lease a public housing unit, operated and maintained by the Clarksville Housing Authority (CHA). Federal regulations mandate that applicants for public housing complete an application for admission and continued occupancy as part of an eligibility determination process, which includes disclosing all income, earnings and assets of individuals living in the unit.
The indictment says Fulmore applied for and obtained an FHA loan to purchase a single family home. The loan application for this property listed income and assets not previously reported to the CHA, including a monthly beneficiary payment in the amount of approximately $2,800.
Fulmore lived there until April 2014, when the house went into foreclosure. During this time, Fulmore continued to make the reduced rental payments for the public housing unit and stayed there after the foreclosure, until August 2016.
For each of the three subsequent years that Fulmore received the public housing benefits, he submitted annual certifications to the CHA, which falsely reported and concealed his true assets and household income, meaning he fraudulently received a subsidized public housing unit.
If convicted, Fulmore faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie N. Toussaint is prosecuting the case.