6 March 2005 – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – Marcos Daniel Jiménez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; and William Creel, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General, announced today the return on March 1, 2005, of an Indictment charging defendant, Samuel Norris, a Miami-Dade County employee, with theft of government funds, and Norris’ initial appearance yesterday, March 3, 2005, in federal court in Miami, Florida.
Norris, an employee of the Miami-Dade Housing Agency (MDHA) whose affordable housing programs are funded by HUD, is named in a twelve (12) count Indictment, charging him with two (2) counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 666(a)(1)(A) and 2; nine (9) counts of theft of government funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641; and one (1) count of making a false statement to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1010. As alleged in the Indictment, Norris utilized his employment as an employee of the MDHA Leasing and Contracts Section, to certify that F.D.M., a third party individual, was the legal owner of the property located at 3120 N.W. 211 Street, in Opa Locka, Florida. From 2000 through 2004, Norris cashed the subsidy checks payable to F.D.M. from MDHA. Norris defrauded HUD of over $21,000 Section 8 housing assistance payments.
If convicted on the theft counts, Norris faces a maximum statutory term of imprisonment of ten (10) years per count. If convicted on the false statement count, Norris faces a maximum statutory term of imprisonment of two (2) years. Mr. Jiménez commended the investigative efforts of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and the Miami-Dade County Housing Agency. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Buckner and Jeffrey Marcus.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on .
