Lekishaann Huggins, 45, of Tallahassee, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 30 on charges related to defrauding the Tallahassee Housing Authority of $378,000. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the indictment that includes 39 counts of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, four counts of spending money laundering, and two counts of filing a false tax return.
Huggins appeared for her arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee. The jury trial is scheduled for September 8 at 8:30 a.m., to be held before United States Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.
If convicted on all charges, Huggins faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment for each bank fraud count; two years’ imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence for aggravated identity theft; up to ten years’ imprisonment for each spending money laundering count; and up to three years’ imprisonment for each false tax return count. She may also face restitution and forfeiture of assets.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General as part of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud launched by President Donald J. Trump—a whole-of-government effort aimed at reducing fraud within Federal benefit programs. An indictment is an allegation and not evidence; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division), which investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of committing fraud against Americans in support of President Trump’s Task Force chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida serves as one of 94 offices under direction from the Attorney General and operates from courthouses in Tallahassee, Pensacola, and Gainesville while covering 23 counties across northern Florida including Tallahassee and the Panhandle region, according to its official website. The office enforces federal laws—including defending national security—protects civil rights and public funds, and advances community safety through collaborations with law enforcement agencies such as Project Safe Childhood and Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee.