LENOIR COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – Two people in Lenoir County pleaded guilty after prosecutors say they defrauded the federal government of more than $187,000 in COVID housing loans.
Kendra Edmondson, 39, and Britteny Dryer, 35, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
Prosecutors say the pair worked with others to submit fake applications to the North Carolina Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions program.
The applications included fake tenant leases for several Lenoir County properties.
Between November 2020 and December 2021, prosecutors say the group submitted 23 fake applications and received more than $187,000 for personal use.
The NC HOPE program used federal CARES Act money to help struggling renters avoid eviction and utility shutoffs during the pandemic.
“These two lowdown fraudsters chose to milk the system by lining their pockets while hardworking…
PROCUREMENT & EXPENDITURE (STOPPING KICKBACKS)
Procurement fraud usually involves inflated invoices or “fictitious” vendors.
- The Three-Way Match: Never pay an invoice unless you have matched the Purchase Order (PO), the Delivery Note (signed), and the Supplier Invoice.
- Vendor Master File Review: Review your vendor list annually. Look for suppliers with the same bank details or physical addresses as your employees.
- Dual Authorization: Implement a “Two-to-Sign” rule for all EFT payments above a certain threshold (e.g., R5,000).
- No “Cashing” of Checks: If you still use physical checks, strictly prohibit “Cash” as a payee and store blank checks in a dual-lock safe.