Woman accused of illegally subletting Section 8 housing in NYC
NEW YORK (PIX11) -- A woman in Florida was arrested and charged in connection with illegally receiving financial benefits from Section 8 while subletting an apartment in the Bronx, according to the New York City Department of Investigations.
Australia Gonzalez, 65, was charged with grand larceny, petit larceny and offering a false instrument for filing, authorities say.
The New York City Housing Authority paid more than $50,000 in benefits to Gonzalez between 2019 and 2024 for her Bronx apartment while she was actually living in Florida, investigators report.
"This defendant, a Section 8 recipient, obtained tens of thousands of dollars in rental subsidies to which she was not entitled, by omitting and misrepresenting to NYCHA key facts about her residency and household income, according to the charges," said DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber.
In the criminal complaint, Gonzalez is accused of subletting the apartment to two people who paid between $750 to $800 in rent. She reportedly failed to report that income to NYCHA and even claimed that she was unemployed, resulting in Gonzalez receiving more in housing benefits, investigators say.
The Section 8 Housing Voucher Program, is meant to provide rental assistance to low-income families. NYCHA administers the largest Section 8 program in the country.
If convicted, Gonzalez could face almost 30 years in prison. Her next court date is set for May.
Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.