Maryland Woman Charged with Stealing Housing and Nutritional Assistance Payments

 PITTSBURGH, PA - A Maryland resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of theft of government funds, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

The two-count Indictment named Briayell Moore, age 40, of Laurel, Maryland, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, from approximately June 2010 until approximately May 2017, Moore converted for her own use Housing Assistance Payments that were funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and from approximately December 2015 until approximately September 2016, Moore converted for her own use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Payments (aka “food stamps”) from the Department of Agriculture, for which she was ineligible.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.