Lenoir County women plead guilty in $187,000 COVID fraud case

Two Lenoir County women have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in a COVID-era rental assistance fraud case involving more than $187,000, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Kendra Edmondson, 39, and Britteny Dryer, 35, each pleaded guilty in connection with what federal prosecutors described as a scheme to defraud the government through the North Carolina Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions program, known as NC HOPE.

According to prosecutors, Edmondson, Dryer and others submitted fraudulent applications for emergency rental assistance between November 2020 and December 2021. The applications included fictitious tenant lease agreements for multiple Lenoir County properties, according to a news release.

Federal officials said the group submitted 23 fraudulent applications and received more than $187,000 in housing funds for personal use.

Each woman faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine at sentencing.

The NC HOPE program was funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program used federal funds to help North Carolina renters remain in their homes by preventing evictions and utility shutoffs.

The case was investigated with assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Kinston Police Department.