Tallahassee Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the Tallahassee Housing Authority

Tallahassee, Florida - Lekishaann Huggins, 45, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to 39 counts of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and four counts of spending money laundering. This investigation is a part of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud launched by President Donald J. Trump, a whole-of-government effort to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "This fraudster pocketed federal funds intended to provide housing assistance to low-income citizens to instead throw herself a lavish holiday party and purchase jewelry, designer purses, and other luxury items using your taxpayer dollars. This is beyond despicable, but thanks to the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and DOJ's National Fraud Enforcement Division are striking back against the fraudsters who have ripped off the American taxpayer."

Court documents reveal that in 2023 and 2024, the defendant was employed as a Housing Choice Voucher Manager for the Tallahassee Housing Authority (THA). The investigation revealed the defendant embezzled 40 payments totaling approximately $378,927. She accomplished this by using the names and profiles of 16 former THA tenants. The defendant falsely billed non-existent rent payments to a company she controlled. In January 2025, THA, who received and administered federal funds provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, notified law enforcement of suspicious entries in their tracking systems. Law enforcement's investigation revealed the defendant also filed false tax returns in 2023 and 2024 involving her stated income and falsifying forms. As part of her plea, the defendant agreed to forfeit jewelry, clothing, and accessories seized during the investigation.

The defendant faces up to 30 years' imprisonment for each of the 39 counts of bank fraud, 2 years' imprisonment consecutive to any other imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft count, up to 10 years' imprisonment for each spending money laundering count, restitution, and forfeiture of assets.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2027, at 10:30 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ("Fraud Division"). The Fraud Division is 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.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations with assistance from the Tallahassee Police Department and the Leon County Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Eric W. Welch and Michelle Spaven are prosecuting the case.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.