Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Minnesota resident, formerly of Holliston, Massachusetts, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on Apr. 23 for allegedly obtaining more than $100,000 in emergency rental assistance funds intended to help those facing financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The case highlights ongoing efforts to address pandemic-related fraud and protect public resources meant for vulnerable households. Authorities say the defendant fraudulently acquired government funds designed to support individuals struggling with rent payments due to the economic impact of COVID-19.
According to charging documents, Yvonette Joseph, age 45 and now living in Minneapolis, is accused of receiving over $100,000 from the California Department of Housing & Community Development's Emergency Rental Assistance program after purported tenants named her as landlord for a Los Angeles property. After receiving these funds in November 2021, Joseph allegedly transferred them between accounts she controlled before wiring some money to Nigeria and sending other amounts to a cryptocurrency exchange.
Joseph faces two counts each of theft of government money and unlawful monetary transactions. Each charge carries potential penalties including up to ten years in prison, three years supervised release, fines up to $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 said that Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney from the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case with Loren J. Sciurba from the Treasury Department’s Office of Inspector General also involved in announcing these charges.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts advances community initiatives on civil rights and violence prevention according to its official website. The office maintains facilities at Boston's John Joseph Moakley United States Federal Courthouse as well as branch offices in Springfield and Worcester according to its official website. It operates as part of the United States Department of Justice according to its official website and employs over 200 attorneys along with paralegals and professional staff according to its official website.
Additionally, it enforces federal laws through prosecutions involving national security threats and civil rights violations according to its official website, serving all residents across Massachusetts according to its official website. The office handles both criminal prosecutions and civil litigation for the United States government; it has been operating since 1789 as one of America’s earliest such entities according to its official website.
In May 2021, an interagency task force was established by the Attorney General specifically targeting COVID-19 related frauds through investigation coordination among various agencies nationwide. More information about this effort can be found at https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud . Anyone with information about attempted pandemic-related fraud can report it via https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .
Authorities emphasize that all details contained within charging documents are allegations only; "The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
