A Roanoke Rapids man charged in a COVID-related rental fraud scheme who was scheduled to be sentenced this past Monday is now scheduled for sentencing during the July 8 term in Raleigh, federal court records show.
An Enfield man charged in the same scheme is scheduled for a May 20 arraignment.
Timothy Harvey of Roanoke Rapids and Arkino Williams of Enfield were two of six men who were charged in a scheme to defraud the NC Hope Program of rental assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Harvey is charged with eight counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. In January he pleaded guilty to one of the counts lodged against him.
Williams is charged with four counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
The case involves 44 fraudulent applications resulting in the disbursement of more than $279,000 in proceeds from the program which was designed to assist renters facing hardships during the pandemic.
The indictment against the six men charges that between June of 2021 and February of 2022 they claimed to be landlords of properties they didn’t own in a conspiracy to apply for and receive rental assistance from the program.
Harvey, according to the indictment, with Joe Jefferson of Nashville, received the following:
A check for $6,705 for a residence on Highway 903 in Roanoke Rapids, a check for $6,930 for a residence in Nashville, a check for $6,930, a check for $10,000, a check for $10,000, a check for $3,000, a check $3,000 and a $4,620 check — all for residences in Rocky Mount.
For residences on Bowers Road in the Littleton area Williams received the following checks:
$8,940 for rental assistance
$8,940 for rental assistance
$2,250 for rental assistance
$2,250 for a residence on Highway 561 in the Enfield area