Pittsburgh Woman Pleads Guilty to Misusing Section 8 Housing Vouchers

PITTSBURGH – September 30, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of theft of government property, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Michelle L. Michalek, 35, of Pittsburgh, PA 15209, pleaded guilty to one felony count before Chief United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that under the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, Michalek fraudulently received federal housing subsidy monies as a purported tenant of the property located at 241 Friday Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15209. From February 2010 through February 2015, Michalek wrongfully converted $43,054.00 in federal housing subsidy monies.

Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for Jan. 8, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of ten (10) years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant…