Atlanta, GA
Former Atlanta Housing executive expected to plead guilty in fraud case
ATLANTA – A former senior executive at Atlanta Housing is expected to plead guilty in the coming weeks to federal charges of defrauding more than $60,000 from Section 8 and COVID-19 relief programs, according to federal prosecutors.
The backstory:
Tracy Jones, who served as the agency’s senior vice president of the Housing Choice Voucher Program since 2017, was arraigned last week on charges of conspiracy to commit theft of government funds, wire fraud and credit application fraud. Jones oversaw one of the largest Section 8 programs in the country before being charged.
What they’re saying:
U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg announced that Jones has indicated she will enter a guilty plea to all three charges.
During the arraignment, Hertzberg detailed a complex web of deception used to carry out the fraud.
“She used a shell business entity, she used a false affidavit,” Hertzberg said. “She convinced friends to lie and present false documents on her behalf. She used a fake name.”
The investigation revealed that Jones allegedly used an alternate identity and multiple business entities to siphon funds intended for the community’s neediest residents. While her attorney, Samuel Joseph, declined to comment on the charges, prosecutors expect the case to be resolved with the upcoming plea.
The other side:
In response to the legal proceedings, Atlanta Housing released a statement: “As this is an active legal matter, Atlanta Housing is unable to comment at this time. We will follow all appropriate protocols related to both internal and external reviews of all claims.”
The agency has already moved to fill the vacancy left by Jones’ departure, appointing Shannon Linsey to the post on Monday.
The Source: This is a FOX 5 original report from Rey Llerena who spoke with federal prosecutors.
Well it has rapidly turned into prospect week for the Braves’ rotation, as a 1.0 inning Reynaldo Lopez start on Tuesday in the middle of a stretch of 10 games straight sent the Braves’ pitching into a scramble to cover innings. An up and down 3.0 inning start from Didier Fuentes resulted in Thursday’s scheduled starter Martin Perez being burnt to cover another 3.0 innings. Fuentes was probably better than his line would indicate, as he got a bit unlucky with some BABIP, while striking out 7 batters across 3.0 innings and generated 15 whiffs on 74 pitches. That said, he was not as his best, particularly in the first inning. So that leaves us with JR Ritchie making his MLB debut on Thursday as a consensus top 100 prospect and top 2 prospect in the organization. Ritchie made a real push for a rotation spot in Spring Training and has been largely effective in AAA so far. Ritchie has a deep pitch mix and will be fun to watch on Thursday, as he can hopefully can provide some depth for a Braves team that desperately needs it.
Jonathan Dupiton attends Invest Fest 2024 at Guardian Works on August 23, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Julia Beverly/WireImage)
ATLANTA – An Atlanta podcaster has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison after being convicted of using stolen identities to obtain millions of dollars in unemployment insurance benefits.
Jonathan Dupiton, who hosts the “Rich and Unemployed” podcast, is heading back to prison after pleading guilty on Jan. 13 to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in front of U.S. District Judge Victoria M. Calvert.
The 36-year-old was ordered to spend seven years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He will also be forced to pay restitution in an amount which has not been revealed.
The backstory:
Prosecutors say that in 2020, Dupiton was completing a federal sentence at a halfway house for a previous fraud conviction targeting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program when the crimes occurred. Prosecutors say he organized a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme that targeted California’s Unemployment Insurance (“UI”) benefits program that began in July 2020 and continued through early 2021.
The program provided temporary financial assistance to lawful workers who were unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the scheme, he obtained stolen identities of hundreds of unwitting individuals and filed claims in California, using a VPN to mask his actual online location.
After the claims were approved, he and his co-conspirators would route the benefits’ debit cards to a North Georgia mailing address, including his own address. He would then withdraw the money from ATMs, mostly in metro Atlanta.
By the numbers:
In all, prosecutors say that he duped the federal government out of $3.8 million, of which he was able to withdraw about $2 million.
Dig deeper:
On Dupiton’s podcast, he explains that his motto is “F.R.A.U.D. is Dope,” with F.R.A.U.D. being a “Finally Rich After Unstoppable Determination.”
What they’re saying:
“During the pandemic, while citizens were struggling with job loss and trying to make ends meet, Dupiton stole unemployment benefits by submitting false applications using hundreds of stolen identities,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “His sentence underscores that anyone who seeks to exploit taxpayer-funded programs will be aggressively prosecuted and face substantial prison time.”
“Jonathan Dupiton orchestrated a brazen scheme to steal millions in unemployment benefits using the stolen identities of innocent victims, all while already serving a sentence for fraud,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “At a time when Americans were facing unprecedented financial hardship, he chose to exploit a critical safety net for personal gain. The FBI remains committed to identifying and holding accountable those who abuse public assistance programs and undermine trust in systems designed to help those in need.”
“Jonathan Dupiton stole identities and filed hundreds of fraudulent claims to steal nearly $3 million in unemployment benefits meant for struggling Americans,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “His sentencing sends a strong message: if you exploit federal programs and steal from taxpayers, my office will relentlessly pursue you. We work hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners and have zero tolerance for fraud. We will find you, and we will hold you accountable.”
“Dupiton’s fraud stole critical unemployment benefits from Americans who needed them most,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Maisha Horton, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS CI special agents remain vigilant in protecting taxpayer dollars and will continue to hold accountable those who exploit public programs for personal gain.”
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, which detailed the sentencing and the investigation by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Department of Labor.
Switchman Hall has opened in Peoplestown, a neighborhood that could be the next frontier of development.
Terminal South, a mixed-use development in Peoplestown that opened earlier this year, includes retail businesses and a food hall called Switchman Hall. Switchman Hall was supposed to open in 2024 but kept getting pushed back as vendors struggled with delays with permitting and the time it takes to build restaurant infrastructure from scratch, an official with the developer said. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
When Olga Alvarez’s 70-year-old uncle came to visit her new food stall, Staxx, at the Terminal South development in Peoplestown, he recognized the building. Or at least, he recognized what it had been.
The collection of buildings at 1161 Ridge Ave. SW have been around for more than 80 years, according to property records. When developer Stafford closed on the property around 2023, it was being used for warehouse storage, said Melissa Ahrendt, executive director of real estate at Stafford.
dluow nrut ot eht taht was liater laitnetop esu-dexim tol otni esuoh ,llah doof tnempoleved sessenisub dna a a lanimreT namhctiwS ,htuoS .llaH tdnerhA
raey tahw tisnart ot hguorht siht siht eht eht eht eht taht ,remmus pots tes dipar denepo eno no no fo fo ,doohrobhgien doohrobhgien elim rojam enil s’ti ti si ni morf gnimochtrof tsrif reilrae detubed psuc sessorc dluoc detelpmoc .egnahc eb eb dna dna tuoba a a .liarT liarT lanimreT edishtuoS edishtuoS htuoS tnemgeS nwotselpoeP s’ATRAM s’tI s’eniltleB s’eniltleB atnaltA atnaltA lirpA 2 .81
ot eht eht desiop denepo fo fo .doohrobhgien erom sti ti sah egde srood detcennoc retnec eb ta ta ,lla a lanimreT htuoS ,nwotselpoeP dimA
Mixed-use development Terminal South opened in Peoplestown this year with a food hall, Switchman Hall. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
A long road to opening
htiw ohw saw sesuoheraw ot ot meht eht eht eht eht taht gnihtemos tnediser denwo revo .tuo no gnikool denrael rof evord od elpuoc kcehc ,sgnidliub nehW egdiR kraP tnarG eunevA tdnerhA
dluow htiw t’nsaw ot ot eht taht ,egarots dekcats tsaehtuos ehs ehs was dias modnar tcejorp ylralucitrap ytinutroppo erom evisserpmi rof roolf ,tsrif gniliec gnidliub gnirb ta na seitinema a .atnaltA hguohtlA
tahW“ ew ew ew ,saw ”,nwot ot eht edis ehs secivres evres tnemges was dias ,liater yllaer ruo ruo fo fo weivretni ni evah evah evah ,llah doof hguone hguone t’nod t’nod t’nod ta na a namhctiwS I .llaH ,eniltleB
,sraey dekrow eht derohcna-erots gnippohs ,dias seitreporp tcejorp no fo reven ti nwotni ni ni .llah t’ndah dah yrecorg doof s’ynapmoc .sretnec tliub erofeb era dna dna na a lanimreT droffatS ,htuoS htuoS tsoM aigroeG ,adirolF aniloraC erofeB atnaltA tdnerhA
,sraey erew saw ,snoisrev rieht eht eht eht sseccus lareves tcejorp secalp nwo denepo fo ortem ekil tsal deripsni ni evah sllah doof ytic sretnec yb .gnimoob dnuora decnuonna dna nehW namhctiwS teertS ecnoP .tekraM tekraM gorK nI llaH ytiC atnaltA ,3202
sraey htiw saw eerht eht eht seihtooms .sehciwdnas tnaruatser ylteiuq denepo gnireffo fo ni llah doof tubed ,slwob ,decnuonna dna retfa iaca a namhctiwS ,xxatS ylraeN llaH rebmeceD
htiw rodnev ot esoht eht eht taht llits sllats sllats sllats s’ehs nees dias ,tnaruatser evitatneserper ,ylraluger sulp tuo nepo fo enin tfel .desael ,desael gnidulcni reh sah llah morf rof doof evif ,dellif demrifnoc eb ,rab era a lanimreT .xxatS htuoS fO zeravlA A 81 31 31
Atlanta native Olga Alvarez has opened Staxx in Switchman Hall with smoothies and toasts. (Courtesy)
sraey nehw saw eht naht was .dezingocer ytinutroppo ytinutroppo fo doohrobhgien erom ni ni emoh eh eh llah rednuof doof tsrif ,tcaf thguob na osla ,oga a nwoT ehT .nwotselpoeP selpoeP nI ,eeffoC ,zciwoilbiB ydnA 01
saw detnaw ot siht yeht yeht ocat os tcejorp snalp ,rentrap etapicitrap atiragram wenk ,ni sih draeh eh rof depoleved .tpecnoc ssenisub dna dna tuoba a a nehW eT ,socaT namhctiwS s’droffatS oreiuQ ,zereP siuL ,llaH zciwoilbiB
htiw ot ot eht eht dengis dengis dnoces ,tnaruatser snalp nepo no esael ni ni ni ni rof .tnempoleved gnidliub dna dna dna na tnecajda dda a lanimreT eT htuoS oreiuQ azziP azziP zereP yluJ eH sdooG sdooG netulG ,eerF leeF leeF zciwoilbiB 4202 ,3202
hcihw t’nerew t’nsaw saw saw rednu ,emit eht eht eht stnanet llits ecnis emas dias gninepo fo ynam desael ti weivretni gnidulcni ni eh llah ylluf doof gnileef .noitcurtsnoc denrecnoc emoc ta dna na tuoba eT ,socaT oreiuQ ,yraunaJ tuB zciwoilbiB
In this photo from February, Andy Bibliowicz’s concept Te Quiero Tacos is on the left, but it will no longer open in the food hall. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
dekrow htiw htiw hcihw srodnev koot ot ,emit yeht rieht eht eht stnanet emos gnittimrep nwo rof decneirepxe syaled srotcartnoc noitcurtsnoc .seinapmoc detubirtta sa dna dna lla tuo-dliuB tdnerhA
,raey lliw erew owt ot siht tes tnaruatser nepo nepo on regnol ni ni ni demrifnoc stpecnoc tub dna dna lanimreT eT socaT namhctiwS .htuoS oreiuQ azziP ,hcraM llaH sdooG leeF s’zciwoilbiB zciwoilbiB tdnerhA
,sraey hcihw eciwt ot .semit eerht esoht meht eht eht eht detanimret lareves dias gnisael-er ssecorp gnicalp tsap revo elpitlum del sesael desael ni ni ,llah dah ylluf doof dnapxe ylrae ,noitcurtsnoc tub sessenisub nageb erofeb neeb kcab namhctiwS namhctiwS llaH llaH tdnerhA ,5202
htiw hcihw llew ot ot eseht eht tnanet ,secaps ecnis noitareneg-dnoces gnisir stnaruatser gnitsixeerp fo fo evom tsom ynam robal si otni .dellatsni morf rof doof doof snoitautculf tnempiuqe tnemnorivne ytluciffid ,stsoc gnitepmoc repaehc gnignellahc egareveb detubirtta sa sa era dna dna ydaerla a ehS
eht maet sllats tnaruatser gninepo erom gnidulcni ni evah morf rof yretae tpecnoc ,ssenisub dniheb neeb dna a ,semiT .akdaT namhctiwS ecniS gninosaeS tcefreP alasaM naciamaJ naidnI llaH iseD ,rebmeceD
Ali Lemma (right, standing), owner and chef at Ruki’s Kitchen, serves food at Terminal South on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
dluow saw detnaw ot ot eht eht ehs ralupop secalp rehto gninepo no fo fo fo wen .ybraen kcal detseretni ni depoh tae ward tnempoleved cihpargomed .sremotsuc gniredisnoc renwo-oc esuaceb eb ta osla a a ,smailliW namhctiwS ehS ,gninosaeS tcefreP llaH ahsilaD
sraey saw gnitiaw dlot ot eerht eht eht eht taht emos ecnis ehs ehs ,nepo fo ,deipucco ti t’nsi llah dah ylluf rof doof .deid denrecnoc zzub dna retfa tuB CJA
s’erehT“ ot ,ereht eht s’taht llits secaps os ehs .dias fo ton tol ti ni llah doof ytpme dluoc gnisuac ”,eb eb sa sa evitca a
htiw rediw tuonrut ot eht eht eht taht naht ecnis ehs ehs ehs ehs nees gniees dias ,tluser yltnecer denepo eno hcum doof-orcim gnitekram rewol noitacol si ni ni reh t’nsah sah ,llah dah ecneirepxe .detcepxe ytinummoc ,desolc ta sa sa dnuora ,dna dna a a ,skroW skroW namhctiwS gninosaeS tcefreP .eirehcaeP s’nwotdiM llaH dooF dooF derapmoC eehcoohattahC eehcoohattahC
emoS“ gniklaw ot ot hguorht yeht ”,ereht ereht eht eht os ehs .dias yap srotarepo eno fo on tsuj tsuj si evah evah gnitteg sdnuf doof seeyolpme t’nod degaruocsid seidob esuaceb era
lliw ohw sdnekeew pu ciffart hguorht skniht s’ereht eht taht taht laicos ecnis egangis ehs ehs ,dias dias detsop gnikcip ,gninepo ecno fo erom ,aidem s’ti ti reh reh reh evah sah ,llah rof toof doof dnif sremotsuc emoc tub .reisub .reisub neeb neeb emoceb dnuora dna a ynaM zeravlA
lanimreT“ fI“ htiw siht neht eht eht syats ees .dias llarevo ecin ”,dedeen detekram si llah rof doof ,gnihtyreve ydobyreve yltcerroc tnetsisnoc ”.ytinummoc nac gnieb tessa dna dna a htuoS I zeravlA
Will a rising tide raise all ships?
htiw ot eht ksat .doohrobhgien dah gnipoleved gnitcennoc rehtona :hsilpmocca lanimreT ,htuoS nwotselpoeP sediseB tdnerhA
dluow saw detnaw egaw eht eht eht eht eht taht dias stnediser tnediserp yap fo fo ton doohrobhgien erom emitgnol emitgnol elbavil sboj detaroprocni ni ni ni .llah doof ,tsrif enoyreve citatsce ytinummoc eettimmoc ,aera aera dna .tsivitca tuoba a a a ,draW ehT noitazilativeR nwotselpoeP nwotselpoeP ,.proC submuloC tA ,1991
dluow htiw eht dnuos dias enohp ynam ekil ,sboj ti ni eh llah doof t’ndid llac gnirb a .CJA A
t’nsaw saw dlot ot ot yeht meht eht eht eht taht taht ehs ehs dias nruter .citsilaer on sgniteem regnol sboj lairtsudni depoh reh puorg rof denialpxe ,ytinummoc ytinummoc .esac dednetta derussa dna nehW tdnerhA
dluow dluow dluow gnikrow htiw ot ot ot neht rieht eht eht taht tnanet stneduts llits ehs pihsralohcs selas ,dias gniriuqer noitrop fo desab-sdeen .hctam ,sboj ni etaidemmi llah rof doof hcae etubirtnoc ytinummoc ytinummoc dettimmoc yb gnirb eb dna a a droffatS droffatS A
lliw ot ot eht taht troppus ,stneduts spihsralohcs .dias gnimmargorp tiforpnon doohrobhgien lacol sdik sboj otni ni ,erutuf gnidnif gnidliub gnirb eb kcab dna dna smia gniretsinimda a a nwotselpoeP maerD ,sredliuB tdnerhA
”,srodassabma“ elihw ot ot eht eht eht ytiruces ytiruces citobor ytreporp snalp dellortap lortap edistuo fo fo si edisni erih sah ,sdraug yllaitnesse .sgod yb osla lanimreT droffatS htuoS
Terminal South has said it will staff its security and janitorial crew with employees from the neighborhood. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
gnikrow htiw htiw .pu ciffart ot ot ev’yeht eht eht ffats dias snalp skcip elpoep erom lairotinaj si derih toof evif .werc ta sa dna srodassabma dda tuoba lanimreT droffatS htuoS maerD sredliuB tdnerhA
os“ gnikrow htiw htiw tahw tahw saw pu siht siht eht eht eht eht ecaps ecaps .dias dias pihsrentrap fo fo wenk wenk sti ni esuoh lufepoh eh eh eh dah werg rednuof dne dluoc .ytinummoc tub ,kcolb nageb ,neeb ”,eb ta dna osla tuoba a nehW lanimreT htuoS ,nosnhoJ yaJ I I eH maerD llerraD ,sredliuB tdnerhA
esu ot ot thguoht eht eht eht .snur stnaruatser ,tcejorp ecudorp elbissop ,seitinutroppo etunim thgim sboj yletaidemmi woh draeh eh eh nedrag morf neve pihsruenerpertne nwod ytinummoc eb dna tuoba tuoba elba ehT nosnhoJ
tI“ tuB“ dluow tahw tahw t’nsaw saw ”,detnaw su gniyrt ot kniht eht eht eht eht ehs .dias reffo ”.doohrobhgien doohrobhgien doohrobhgien aedi ylluf rof deredisnoc ytinummoc stifeneb esuaceb eb detpecca draW I
elihw ,setadpu ereht eht taht emos laicos dias stnediser deviecer mroftalp ,nepo .no no ,redlo fo swen doohrobhgien ,aidem ynam ycagel s’ti s’ti sih t’nsah sah puorg neeb t’nera dna a draW woN
dluow nehw ,keew tnaw pirt deirt .ot ot ot ot skniht yeht ereht eht eht eht troppus emos sroines gniludehcs stnediser gninnalp ecno srobhgien erom erom sgniteem wenk ti ni fi flesmih s’eh pleh ,llah rof doof dleif neve gnitae nac yb sessenisub gnirb ssenerawa ta .aera dna droffa tuoba tuoba a a draW lanimreT ,htuoS s’eH
eht eht eht eht detrats ecaps ralimis deusrup sesahp ,shtap rehto gninepo sdoohrobhgien esu-dexim ekil ni ni ni ni ni evah llah rof doof evisnapxe tnempoleved dna dna deriuqca etihW tseW srentraP HDM eeL .dnE stnempoleveD .oC atnaltA namrekcA .3202 ,9102 + ;pma&
eW“ sihT‘ htiw tahw tahw er’ew detnaw koot ot ot ot ot yeht meht meht llet dias liater tnediserp ralucitrap fo ton doohrobhgien teem netsil si spuorg gniog ”’,od tnereffid erac ta sa dna dna ,reneiW oeL .oC namrekcA ;pma&
parw htiw hcihw tahw erew srodnev gnisu ot ot yeht .sevlesmeht meht eht eht eht emos emos dias sksir tnaruatser detseuqer elbissop ylgnimlehwrevo tuo ,snoitpo srotarepo srotarepo fo srobhgien tinuitlum .xim ynam lacol del si edulcni ni yhtlaeh dah laog rof emit-tsrif gnidliub lwob ecnalab sa sa dna dna osla a reneiW ,etihW nehW eeL otsuG .oC namrekcA + ;pma&
s’tI“ dooF“ ”.sraey nrut ot rieht dnet llits sllats .dias ”,ksir revo fo eguh eh sllah yreve elpuoc a %02-01
,raey hcihw srotisiv ot eht eht eht ,setis was ,dias liater tnaruatser ,ytreporp rehto seciffo noillim sedulcni eh .tnempoleved stpecnoc yrewerb ta dna dna tuoba etihW eeL tsaL 1 +
sdnekeew .detnaw yteirav .ciffart ot ot yeht meht eht eht eht taht sseccus os ytnelp no sgnireffo ffo fo fo fo detacol gninetsil ni ni depleh gnivah sah toof doof raf ,sgnineve sdworc ytinummoc lartnec sgnirb gnignirb gnieb rab setubirtta tcartta dna dna dna a a etihW eeL eH eniltleB ,oslA +
— htlaew gniklaw .segaw nrut ot rieht eht eht taht sseccus dias stnediser yap snoitpo seitinutroppo no fo srobhgien doohrobhgien detacol elbavil detsevni otni gnimocni ni ni ni woh ,semoh sih s’eh eh morf doof desucof tnemyolpme ecnatsid tnempoleved ylpeed noitaerc era etaicerppa dna lla evoba elihW draW .nwotselpoeP
eW“ dnA“ krow ohw tnaw tnaw ot ot siht yeht yeht eht gnihtemos gnihtemos ees .dias elpoep fo evol tol ekil ni tog rof degagne ”,od od ytinummoc ytinummoc erac ”.retteb retteb dna dna osla a draW I
ot emit eht eht eht taht tnanet ekat emos dias ,stnediser desimorp tuo xim yam swonk sboj sti eh llah steg rof doof .reisub sdliub sa dna nwotselpoeP nosnhoJ sA
doog“ ohw ot eht eht eht eht ”drawets laicos dias sesimorp dnuoforp rehto seitinutroppo ylno eno no sevom naem ti si otni ni ni mih reh evah sah cimonoce ssucsid srepoleved dereviled .ytinummoc .segnahc nac tub neeb ,aera ,aera dehcaorppa dna dna na a nehW nosnhoJ eniltleB tdnerhA
stnaw ot eht eht eht erus dias stnediser fo doohrobhgien ekam ,sevol ycagel lufepoh s’eh eh eh eh erutuf .nettogrof t’nera tuoba elihW
eW“ yllufepoH“ siht‘ taht‘ htiw ew su ”,euqinu eht eht eht ’teerts ’.teerts edis edis .dias esir ssap ,revo ro fo fo on doohrobhgien ”.ti si t’nod tnempoleved era dna lla yllautca sihT s’erehT .nwotselpoeP nosnhoJ
Olivia Wakim is a digital content producer on the food and dining team. She joined the AJC as an intern in 2023 after graduating from the University of Georgia with a journalism degree. While in school, she reported for The Red & Black, Grady Newsource and the Marietta Daily Journal.
-
New York13 minutes agoMamdani Considers Delaying Pension-Fund Payments to Ease Budget Gap
-
Detroit, MI43 minutes agoThings to do in Metro Detroit, April 24 and beyond
-
San Francisco, CA55 minutes agoCA to open 3 new state parks and expand others, including in Bay Area: Here’s where
-
Dallas, TX1 hour agoWild vs. Stars Game 3: Key takeaways as Dallas takes series lead on Wyatt Johnston’s 2OT winner
-
Miami, FL1 hour agoMiami-Dade deputies detain elderly father who they say shot and killed his son after a domestic dispute
-
Boston, MA1 hour agoBoston has one of the best public markets in the country, says USA TODAY
-
Denver, CO1 hour agoRed flag fatigue? Colorado sees near-record number of critical fire days
-
Seattle, WA1 hour agoFOLLOWUP: West Seattle pickleball players band together to save court access