Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Minnesota resident, formerly from Holliston, Massachusetts, has been arrested on charges related to the fraudulent receipt of emergency rental assistance funds meant for individuals facing financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yvonette Joseph, 45, of Minneapolis, was charged by complaint with theft of government money. She was taken into custody on August 26, 2025, and appeared in federal court in the District of Minnesota. She is expected to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
The Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program was established by Congress in 2021 to help eligible low-income households pay for rent and related housing expenses during the pandemic. According to court records, Joseph allegedly received over $100,000 in ERA funds from the California Department of Housing & Community Development after applications were submitted naming her as a landlord for a property in Los Angeles. Authorities allege that after receiving these funds, Joseph wired part of the money to a bank account in Nigeria and used the rest for her own benefit.
If convicted, Joseph faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss—whichever is greater—as well as forfeiture and restitution. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Loren J. Sciurba, Deputy Inspector General of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Inspector General announced the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney from the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
In May 2021, the Attorney General created the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to coordinate efforts across government agencies against pandemic-related fraud schemes. The task force focuses on investigating and prosecuting both domestic and international actors involved in such crimes and supports agencies managing relief programs through improved coordination and information sharing about fraudulent activities (https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud).
Individuals with information about attempted COVID-19 fraud are encouraged to report it using the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud web form (https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form).
Authorities emphasize that all details contained in charging documents are allegations; Joseph is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
