Press Release  Former Housing Counselor to Pay Back Fraudulently Obtained Pandemic-Era Rental Assistance

Boston, MA — A former residential housing counselor at a non-profit regional housing agency has agreed to pay back twice what she fraudulently received in Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds.

Jennifer Munoz, 32, of Haverhill, MA, agreed to pay $109,100 over the course of three years to resolve allegations that from April 2020 to January 2022, she filed false claims to obtain $54,550 from the ERAP program for her personal benefit. 

Based on an investigation initiated by Office of the Inspector General it is alleged that Munoz violated the Massachusetts False Claims Act when she submitted three rental assistance applications for individuals who were not actually tenants in her two-family home in Haverhill.  At the same time, she was employed at Community Teamwork, Inc. (CTI), a Regional Administering Agency for the Commonwealth’s rental assistance programs. Ms. Munoz used her position at CTI to facilitate the approval of her fraudulent applications. CTI terminated her employment after learning of these actions.

The case was referred to the Office of the Attorney General.  In the Final Judgment by Consent, filed in Suffolk Superior Court on May 23, 2023, Ms. Munoz agreed to pay the Commonwealth double the amount of the ERAP funds she fraudulently received. Ms. Munoz has also agreed that she will never apply for state housing assistance again in the future.

“There is a harmful ripple effect when resources are diverted from their intended purpose,” said Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro.  “This office will continue to vigorously pursue allegations of such fraud and to seek accountability for those who put their own interests ahead of those who need and rely on this support.”

The OIG operates a hotline for anyone to report fraud or other suspected wrongdoing involving public funds or property by contacting 800-322-1323 or IGO-FightFraud@mass.gov.

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