Cleveland woman faces charges related to Section 8 rental

A Cleveland woman faces criminal charges related to collecting Section 8 payments for renting a property to a relative, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Jasmine Ganaway, 36, was charged via criminal information with one count of theft of public money and one count of concealment of assets in bankruptcy.

Ganaway formerd LRG Development in 2006. She purchased residence on East 146th Street in Cleveland then transferred ownership to LRG. That residence in 2008 was certified for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, or Section 8, In November 2008, two of Ganaway’s relatives executed a lease agreement for part of the property on East 146th Street, despite a prohibition against leasing to relatives, according to the information.

Between 2009 and 2015, the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority made deposits under the Section 8 program into Ganaway’s checking account totaling approximately $35,611, according to the information.

In October 2013, Gananway also fraudulently concealed her ownership interest in LRG and rental income as part of her bankruptcy proceedings, according to the information.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Patton following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General and the CMHA police.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after a review of the federal sentencing guidelines and factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

A charge is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.