Skip to main content
Press Release

Former Hennepin County Employee Indicted On Theft Of Government Funds

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Minnesota
Former Employee and husband schemed to steal government funding designed to assist low-income residents

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced a federal indictment charging ROBERT ANTHONY COLEMAN, 45, and YOLANDA YVETTE COLEMAN aka YOLANDA YVETTE PITTMAN, 50, with multiple counts related to the theft of more than $248,000 of government funds. ROBERT COLEMAN is also charged with two counts of false statements and an additional count of Social Security fraud. They will make their initial appearances in U.S. District Court at a later date. 1]

According to documents filed with the court, from least October 2010 through August of 2018, ROBERT COLEMAN and YOLANDA PITTMAN conspired to fraudulently obtain government funds and public assistance including, Section 8 rental housing assistance subsidies, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and Medical Assistance benefits, by purposefully submitting false applications to the government entities responsible for implementing these programs.

Further, according to documents filed with the court, YOLANDA PITTMAN used her role as an employee of Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department to affect COLEMAN’S receipt of benefits and failed to note that she lived with ROBERT COLEMAN.  PITTMAN also acted as COLEMAN’S Personal Care Attendant (PCA) for several years, with COLEMAN’S Medical Assistance benefits paying for these PCA services.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of the Inspector General, Hennepin County Fraud Unit, and the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Hudleston and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Middlecamp.

Defendant Information:                                                                                                                     

ROBERT ANTHONY COLEMAN, 45

Minneapolis, Minn.

Charges:

  • Conspiracy, 1 count
  • Theft of government funds- housing, SNAP, and Social Security Fraud, 1 count
  • False statement, 2 counts
  • Social Security Benefits Fraud, 1 count
     

YOLANDA YVETTE COLEMAN, aka YOLANDA YVETTE PITTMAN, 50

Minneapolis, Minn.  

Charges:

  • Conspiracy, 1 count
  • Theft of government funds- housing, SNAP, and Social Security Fraud, 1 count
  • Theft from a Program Receiving Federal Funds, 1 count

 

 

 

###

 

Additional news available on our website.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

 

 

 

 

[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

Updated November 16, 2018
Component
USAO - Minnesota