Former Florida Housing Authority Manager Pleads Guilty to Stealing Nearly $379,000 in Housing Assistance Funds
Tallahassee, a city in Leon County, Florida — The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida announced on November 2 that Lekishaann Huggins, 45, a former Housing Choice Voucher manager for the Tallahassee Housing Authority (THA), has pleaded guilty in federal court to 39 counts of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and four counts of spending money laundering. Prosecutors say she embezzled approximately $378,927 in federal funds meant to provide housing assistance to low-income residents.
According to court documents, while working as a Housing Choice Voucher manager in 2023 and 2024, Huggins used the names and profiles of 16 former THA tenants to falsely bill 40 non-existent rent payments to a company she controlled. THA administers federal funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In January 2025, THA notified law enforcement after finding suspicious entries in its tracking systems.
Investigators also found that Huggins filed false tax returns in 2023 and 2024 involving her stated income and falsified forms. As part of her plea, she agreed to forfeit jewelry, clothing, and accessories seized during the investigation.
U.S. Attorney John P. 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." The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Tallahassee Police Department and the Leon County Sheriff's Office.
Huggins faces up to 30 years in prison on each bank fraud count, a consecutive two-year term for aggravated identity theft, up to 10 years on each money laundering count, plus restitution and forfeiture. Sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2027, at 10:30 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief U.S. District Judge Allen C. Winsor. A federal grand jury had indicted Huggins in July 2026.
(Source: U.S. Department of Justice)
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Tallahassee 的美国法院大楼，美国破产法院设于这栋历史建筑内（资料图）。Carol M. Highsmith 摄，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The U.S. Courthouse building in Tallahassee, home to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court (file photo). By Carol M. Highsmith, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
