Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Ernest Eugene Brown, 52, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft for his role in embezzling funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Columbia Housing Authority's (CHA) Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) program.

Brown previously served as Vice President of the HCV program. Brown used his position to fraudulently direct rent payments to his personal accounts by using various existing CHA vendors. Brown accessed the CHA system and replaced the legitimate vendors' bank routing and account numbers with his own account numbers. By associating his own bank account information with the legitimate landlord, Brown stole the landlord's identity to embezzle the funds from HUD and the CHA. Brown embezzled approximately $20,340 and attempted to embezzle an additional $8,327.94.

Brown faces a mandatory penalty of two years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and one year of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Cameron Currie accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Brown after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department's work to combat fraud supports President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

This case was investigated by Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson is prosecuting the case.

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