BRUNDIDGE | RICKEY STOKES NEWS
A former Brundidge Police Chief has been ordered to forfeit three residential rental properties after pleading guilty in a federal case involving fraudulent use of COVID-19 relief funds.
On January 21, a federal judge ordered Samuel Cornelius Green, 51, to surrender his interest in three rental properties located in Troy. The forfeiture follows Green’s guilty plea related to illegally obtaining funds from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).
According to court documents, ERAP was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to assist households unable to pay rent or utilities and to reimburse landlords for unpaid rent. Prosecutors say Green submitted multiple fraudulent ERAP applications between March and November 2021.
Investigators allege the applications contained false information regarding tenants, rental agreements, and payment histories. In several instances, prosecutors say Green submitted counterfeit or altered utility bills to support the fraudulent claims.
In October, Green pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. His co-conspirator, Schemillia Levera Fenn, also pleaded guilty to wire fraud for her role in the scheme.
On January 14, the court ordered Green and Fenn to jointly pay $118,175 in restitution to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Green was additionally fined $1,000.
Federal sentencing proceedings are pending.
