Homeowner stole Section 8 cash for his $2.4M SF home. Now he's going to prison

Homeowner stole Section 8 cash for his $2.4M SF home. Now he’s going to prison

A San Francisco homeowner hoodwinked government officials with the use of a Russian woman’s identity and web of bank accounts to steal Section 8 cash assistance to pay for his $2.4 million home near Golden Gate Heights.

Gregory Finkelson, 64, has been sentenced to one year in prison for fraudulently obtaining over $340,000 in government housing benefits intended for low-income families, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

The stolen funds were used for personal expenses, including his business, credit card bills, and a Hawaiian timeshare, according to court documents.

Finkelson pleaded guilty to theft of government property and aiding and abetting. U.S. District Judge James Donato handed down the sentence on Monday.

Prosecutors said Finkelson falsely claimed eligibility for Section 8 housing vouchers from 2006 to 2020. He admitted to using a Russian woman’s name to purchase his home on a leafy block of 16th Avenue and falsely reporting her as his landlord. He used multiple bank accounts, including one in the fictitious landlord’s name, to hide his misuse of the cash. The six-bedroom, five-bathroom home is currently listed for rent at almost $10,000 per month.

https://sfstandard.com/2024/09/11/san-francisco-homeowner-stole-housing-benefits/


In a memorandum filed for the sentencing, the government noted that Finkelson continued his fraudulent conduct even after SFHA acted to terminate his Section 8 subsidies. Because of his conduct, the government argued, Finkelson deprived low-income families actually in need of housing over the entire period of his scheme. According to the government, Finkelson’s actions damaged public trust in the government’s role as a fiduciary for taxpayer dollars.

Finkelson was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 25, 2023. He pleaded guilty on May 7, 2024, to theft of government property and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 641 and 2.

In addition to the one-year term of imprisonment, Judge Donato further sentenced Finkelson to a three-year period of supervision following his release from prison and ordered Finkelson to pay $341,455 in restitution, which represents the total amount he admitted he stole from the government. Finkelson was ordered to surrender into custody on September 16, 2024.

Assistant United States Attorneys Christiaan Highsmith and Kevin Yeh are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Claudia Hyslop. The prosecution is the result of a joint investigation by the FBI, HUD OIG, and IRS-CI, with assistance from SFHA.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/san-francisco-resident-sentenced-one-year-prison-stealing-over-340000-funds-intended