Monday, December 02, 2002

Essex County, New Jersey Sheriff’s Officer Admits Defrauding HUD Housing Program

An Essex County, New Jersey Sheriff’s Officer today admitted defrauding a federal housing program that gives law enforcement officers homes at half-price in urban neighborhoods, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

Ismael Rodriguez, 50, admitted that he lied on an application to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), making it possible for him to get two half-priced homes under the special program designed to put law enforcement officers into homes in redeveloping neighborhoods.

“This was simply shameful conduct,” Christie said. “This program was generous to Rodriguez and helpful to the community. A law enforcement officer conducting this kind of fraud against his own community needs to be prosecuted to the fullest.”

Rodriguez pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson to a one-count Information charging him with making false statements to HUD. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian R. Howe. Sentencing was set for March 11.

HUD runs a federal housing assistance program - the “Officer Next Door Sales Program” - under which it sells homes located in areas designated for revitalization to law enforcement officers at a 50-percent discount in price. In exchange for the substantially reduced price, law enforcement officials are required to own and use the home as a sole residence for at least three years, and not own any other residential property.

Rodriguez admitted to making false statements in May 2000 to HUD in connection with his application under the Officer Next Door Sales Program to purchase a $100,000 home located at 527 Parker Street in Newark, New Jersey. Rodriguez admitted that he did not plan to divest himself of other residential properties he owned, as required under the program.

Rodriguez acknowledged at the plea hearing to making false statements to HUD just six months earlier in November 1999 when he applied under the Officer Next Door Sales Program for a another, $34,000 home located at 33 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Newark, New Jersey. Rodriguez admitted that he was required to live at this residence for a minimum of three years. Thus, Rodriguez was in violation for buying the second home.

mortgage fraud

1. I understand an officer of the law should follow the law, and if they don’t they should be required to pay the penalty just like we would.

   I was reading about “The Officer Next Door” program (that’s how I found your site), and I was doing searches and came across www.hudclips.org telling about that program and the one for “Teachers Next Door” and a newer version for professionals like EMT’s and fire fighters called “Good Neighbor Next Door”.

   While I understand putting these professionals in areas that are being “revitalized” and giving them an incentive to live in those areas, why should “Good Neighbors Next Door” be limited to just some elite (Aryan) race? Why not make a “Good Neighbor” anyone that has kept themselves out of trouble, held down a job, paid their taxes and been good citizens?

   Posted by  on  03/24  at  07:04 PM

2. This space provides lot of eyeopener and enhances ones on do’s and donts and what not !… Very much informative.

   Posted by  on  05/21  at  03:56 AM