02-03-2025
State accuses Davenport woman of fraud through Rental Utility Assistance Program
A 56-year-old Davenport woman was in custody Saturday after the Iowa Finance Authority accused her of fraud, according to court records.
Donna Smith, who was arrested on a warrant on Friday, faces charges of first-degree fraudulent practice and ongoing criminal conduct, court records show.
Affidavits say that Smith knowingly executed or tendered false certification from about May 5, 2021, through Sept. 19, 2022, to get rental assistance through the Iowa Rental Utility Assistance Program.
Smith, affidavits show, 'did so by providing false/fictitious information and records to a state agency or subdivision for herself and a fictitious tenant. The information and records provided certified past due rent during the aforementioned time period in the amount of $13,650,' affidavits show.
Miller did not owe past due rent, 'nor was she the landlord owed past due rent,' and the Iowa Finance Authority 'unwittingly paid out $13,650 in COVID-19 related rental assistance funds erroneously,' court records show.
Additionally, another affidavit says that Miller and a co-defendant knowingly executed or tendered false certifications to the Iowa Finance Authority from about Aug. 31, 2021, through Sept. 16, 2022, to get rental assistance through the Iowa Rental Utility Assistance Program.
The two did this by providing false/fictitious information and records to a state agency or subdivision for three tenants living at a property owned by FIG Tree Holdings LLC and HABU Holdings LLC. The information and records provided certify that these three tenants owed past due rent during the aforementioned time period in the amount of $26,700, when their past due rent totaled only $14,245.
This resulted in an additional $23,625 in rental assistance being paid to FIG Tree Holdings, LLC and HABU Holdings LLC, owned by the co-defendant, who is not named in the affidavit, court records show.
'As a result, (Smith) and co-defendant deceived the Iowa Finance Authority who in turn unwittingly paid out $36,080 in COVID-19 related rental assistance funds erroneously,' according to affidavits.
Miller, who was being held Saturday on a total $135,000 bond, is scheduled for arraignment March 27 in Scott County Court.
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