--- title: "Operation H.U.D. Fraud" type: "pdf" year: "2006" canonical: "/projects/1072" --- ![img-0.jpeg](https://popdatasets.blob.core.windows.net/popdatasetmdimgs/06-46/img-0.jpeg) Rob T. Guerette School of Policy and Management Florida International University Re: 2006 Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing. SUMMARY: In February 2006, the Victorville Detective Bureau served a warrant with Federal Housing Authority agents. During the warrant service and following investigation, Detective Wickum determined an information sharing problem was occurring between H.U.D. and local law enforcement agencies. Exchanging information through the use of local criminal computer systems and federal background information investigations, Detective Wickum was able to identify fifty potential violators who were recipients of the Section 8 federal housing funds. These violators were previously unidentified as low-priority violators and not prosecuted. On May 25, 2006, the Victorville Station conducted Operation H.U.D. Fraud, which included eight teams comprised of local law enforcement from the Victorville Station, our narcotics division, public affairs, the parole office, agents from the H.U.D. / O.I.G. office and the local District Attorney's Office, who worked together to target these fifty locations. This sweep resulted in fifty arrests. Twenty of these targets were arrested for grand theft and perjury, for violating the Housing Authority contracts. Additional charges filed on suspects at the target locations included narcotics violations, receiving stolen property, parole violations, felons in possession of firearms, etc. Follow-up investigations are being conducted at this time to locate the remaining thirty targets and have their funds terminated. Agents from H.U.D. / O.I.G. will complete paperwork to assure the housing authority removes violators from the federally-funded program. The impact of Operation H.U.D. Fraud will include H.U.D. recipients not only being disqualified from receiving federal assistance in the San Bernardino County, but they will also face criminal charges and potential financial restitution to H.U.D. Future Operation H.U.D. Fraud sweeps will provide the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department with an innovative approach to locate and identify criminal activity in an effort to better serve our communities. San Bernardino County Sheriff Department, Victorville Station 14200 Amargosa Road, Victorville, CA. 92392 760 241-2911 ![img-1.jpeg](https://popdatasets.blob.core.windows.net/popdatasetmdimgs/06-46/img-1.jpeg) Rob T. GueretteSchool of Policy and ManagementFlorida International University Re: 2006 Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing. In February of 2006, the Victorville Detective Bureau was contacted by the Office of the Inspector General in reference to a wanted subject in the Victorville area. The H.U.D. / O.I.G. agents oversee federal monies given to each individual state for subsidized housing. During this investigation, Detective Wickum learned that each person applying for subsidized housing is required to sign a contract under penalty of perjury. Some of these terms and conditions include that the recipient not allow sex offenders, gang members or narcotic registrants into the household being funded with the federal money. When the money is distributed to each state, the Housing Authority conducts a background investigation on each applicant and distributes the money. Detective Wickum discovered a flaw in the system where in the federal and state tracking system did not include information that was available to the local law enforcement agencies. When the H.U.D. / O.I.G. officers came to Victorville to serve the warrant, that person was to be prosecuted by the federal government and all future aid to that person was suspended. Detective Wickum learned that the H.U.D / O.I.G. agents only worked on high-priority cases and did not have the manpower to prosecute individuals for minor violations. Detective Wickum took this investigation to our local District Attorney's Office, and in conjunction with them, filed grand theft and perjury charges based on the documents signed by the applicants. Detective Wickum went to the State Housing Authority and contacted their supervisor regarding identifying other tenants receiving Section 8 money who were in violation of the terms and conditions of the contract. Utilizing both computer systems and exchanging information, Detective Wickum was able to identify fifty locations in the city of Victorville with potential violators. He identified these residences by checking the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department computer system to locate narcotic offenders, sex registrants, parolees, gang members and persons with active arrest warrants. This information was not available to the Housing Authority, and we did not have the information as to who was on this public housing program. This was the first time they had combined their records from both the local law enforcement agency and the State Housing Authority to identify target locations. On May 25, 2006, the Victorville Station conducted Operation H.U.D. Fraud, which included eight teams comprised of local law enforcement from the Victorville Station, our narcotics division, public affairs, the parole office, agents from the H.U.D. / O.I.G. office and the local District Attorney's Office, who worked together to target these fifty locations. This sweep resulted in fifty arrests. Twenty of these targets were arrested for grand theft and perjury, for violating the Housing Authority contracts. Additional charges filed on suspects at the target locations included narcotics violations, receiving stolen property, parole violations, felons in possession of firearms, etc. Follow-up investigations are being conducted at this time to locate the remaining thirty targets and have their funds terminated. Agents from H.U.D. / O.I.G. will complete paperwork to assure the housing authority removes violators from the federally-funded program. The impact of Operation H.U.D. Fraud will include H.U.D. recipients not only being disqualified from receiving federal assistance in the San Bernardino County, but they will also face criminal charges and potential financial restitution to H.U.D. Future Operation H.U.D. Fraud sweeps will provide the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department with an innovative approach to locate and identify criminal activity in an effort to better serve our communities. # INTEROFFICE MEMO DATE 05/08/06 PHONE 760-241-2911 FROM ROBERT HUGHES SGT. VICTORVILLE STN. TO MARK TAYLOR CPT. VICTORVILLE STN. # Table of Contents - [INTEROFFICE MEMO](#interoffice-memo) - [SUBJECT PLAN OF OPERATION FOR OPERATION H.U.D. FRAUD SWEEP](#subject-plan-of-operation-for-operation-hud-fraud-sweep) - [ASSISTING STATIONS:](#assisting-stations) - [NARCOTICS](#narcotics) - [GANG UNITS](#gang-units) - [DISPATCH](#dispatch) - [PROOBATION](#proobation) - [TRANSPORTATION](#transportation) - [VICTOR VALLEY JAIL](#victor-valley-jail) - [INTEL DIVISION](#intel-division) - [NURSE](#nurse) - [NOTIFICATION:](#notification) ## SUBJECT PLAN OF OPERATION FOR OPERATION H.U.D. FRAUD SWEEP On May 25, 2005, at 0600 hours, the Victorville Station and federal agents will be conducting a sweep of Section 8 violators. We have identified gang members, sex registrants and persons with active warrants who are in violation of the federal section by receiving financial aide. Investigators have identified forty different targets and will be serving approximately fifteen search warrants, requiring assistance from other members in the department. ## ASSISTING STATIONS: ## NARCOTICS We are requesting assistance from all of narcotics, including High Desert S.E.T., West Valley S.E.T., Low Desert S.E.T and Crime Impact. ## GANG UNITS We are requesting assistance from both the Valley and Desert Gang Teams. ## DISPATCH We are requesting one dispatcher from 0700 hours to approximately 1700 hours, and a separate channel for the operation. ## PROOBATION We are requesting a probation team from the desert to assist us in the operation. ## TRANSPORTATION We are requesting a deputy and a bus from 0600 hours to approximately 1700 hours. # VICTOR VALLEY JAIL We are requesting that the Victor Valley Jail supply an additional booking officer for the operation. After the suspects have been booked, the jail personnel will receive the body and property, then placing them on the waiting transportation bus. The transportation officer will then transport the suspects to the West Valley Detention Center for housing. ## INTEL DIVISION We would like Intel to assist at the command post. ## NURSE We will be requesting Law Enforcement Medical Services to supply one nurse to assist with the booking of prisoners. ## NOTIFICATION: If you could, notify Sgt. Hughes on his cell phone at (760) 559-6193, or Mindy Banuelos at (760) 241-3246, as soon as possible, so that a list of personnel can be compiled. Thank You.