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F. #2016R01315

2018 JAN - 8 PH4: 51

UNITED STATES DISTRJCT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

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INDICTMENT

UNITED STATES OF AMERJCA

CR 18

- against-

0011

(T. 18, U.S.C., §§ 152(1), 152(3),
981(a)(l)(C), 1001(a)(2), 1001(a)(3),
1040(a)(2), 1040(b)( 1), 1040(b)(2),
1040(b)(3), 1343, 1349, 1512(b)(3),
I512(k), 2 and 3551 et seq.; T. 21, U.S.C. ,
§ 853(p); T. 28, U.S.C., § 2461(c))

PAMELA HARRJS ,
Defendant.

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THE GRAND JURY CHARGES:·
INTRODUCTION TO ALL COUNTS

WEINSTEIN, J.

LEW, M.J.

At all t imes relevant to this Indictment, unless otherwise indicated:
I.

The Defendant and Relevant Entities

1.

The defendant PAMELA HARRIS was the New York State

Assemblywoman for District 46, which covers Bay Ridge, Coney Island, Dyker Heights and
other nearby communities in Brooklyn, New York. HARRIS was elected to her position on
November 3, 2015, after .winning a special election. HARRIS won reelection in November
2016.
2.

Prior to being elected to serve in the New York State Assembly, the

defendant PAMELA H.ARRIS was the Executive Director of Coney Island Generation. Gap
("CIGG.,}, a not-for-profit corporation that purported to introduce teenagers and young adults
living in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn to media arts and to provide them with

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,.

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training and mentoring servic,es. As Executive Director, HARRIS exercised exclusive
control over CIG,G 's fman,ces, including authorizing the disbursement of all CIGG funds.
HARRIS was al_so,a former corrections officer with the New York City Department of
Correction.
3~·
dollars annually

The New York City Council ("NYC Council'') allocated millions of

to co,mmutiity.:.based not-for-pr,ofit organizations.

These funds were

commonly known as "discretionary funds." In addition, each NYC Council member was ·
assigned a certain am.ount of discreti,on:ary funds to be distributed to community-b,ased .~,ot-

for-profit organizations., As part of the process of obtainin.g the discretionary funds, not-for. p:rofit organizations would enter into a contract ·with an intermediai-y, typically a New ·York
· Cicy agency, which was respo,nsible for both the ,disbursement of the discretionary funds as
well as monitoring the way in which the not-for-profit organization spent the funds . . If the
n_ot. . for-profit organizatio:n failed to properly account for its expenditures, the intermediary
agency· could decline to disb·-µrse fun,ds to the not-for-profit organization and co,uld termin.ate
the contract.
4.

The New York City Department of Youth and Comnrunity

D~v~lopment (''DYCD") was a New York City government agency. · DYCD was one ofthe
New York City agencies responsible for disbursing NYC Council discretionary funds as well
as mo,nitoring the way in. which the not-for-profit :organization spent the funds.
5.

The Fed.eral Emergency Management Agency .("F'E MA") w·as a
..

constituent agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, a department of
the Executive branch of the federal government. FEMA is authorized to provide financial
I

assistance to individuals and households for certain qualifying expenses, .inc]uding providing

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temporary housing assistance for individuals who are displaced from their homes as a result ·
of an event designated a "major disaster" by the President of the United States.
6.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development

("HUD") was a department of the Executive branch of the federal government. The mission
of HUD was, ai:nong other things, to aid individuals and communities in the development and
purchase of affordable housing.

IL

The Defendant PAMELA HARRIS' s Criminal Schemes
7.

In or about and between November 2012 and January 2017, the

defendant PAMELA HARRIS attempted to execute, and executed, various schemes to
defraud the NYC Council, DYCD, FEMA and HUD of tens of thousands of dollars in funds.
In furtherance of the schemes, HARRIS, among other things, created and submitted false
documents, including lease agreements and payment receipts containing the forged
signatures of other individuals.
8.

Moreover, in or about and between November 2013 and January 2015,

while under oath, the defendant PAMELA HARRIS knowingly and intentionally made false
representations to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York
("Bankruptcy Court") and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee ("Bankruptcy Trustee"), and
omitted information regarding her financial status in connection with her voluntarily filed
Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition.
9.

In addition, in or about and between March 2017 and May 2017, the

defendant PAMELA HARRIS, aware that a Grand Jury sitting in the United States District
Court for the Eastern District of New York was conducting an investigation into her

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fraudulent conduct, conspired to obstruct, and attempted to obstruct, the Grand Jury's
investigation by instructing witnesses to lie to federal law enforcement agents.
A.

The Scheme to Defraud the NYC Council: Fiscal Year 2015
10.

At various times since at least 2008, the defendant PAMELA HARRIS,

acting in her capacity as CIGG's Executive Director, applied for and was awarded NYC
Council discretionary funds to subsidize CIGG's operations.
11.

On or about August 1, 2014, CIGG was awarded $58,570 in NYC

Council discretionary funds for fiscal year 2015.
12.

Before CIGG received the discretionary funds, it was required to detail

for DYCD how it intended to use the funds. On or about November 19, 2014, the defendant
PAMELA HARRIS, as part of this approval process, completed, signed and submitted to
DYCD a document entitled "Space Cost Allocation Plan." In the Space Cost Allocation
Plan, HARRIS represented to DYCD that CIGG would use $22,800, or nearly 40% of the
amount of the funds that CIGG had requested, to rent a location in Coney Island, New York,
owned by Landlord # 1, an individual whose identity is known to the Grand Jury.
13.

In further support of the funding request, the defendant PAMELA

HARRIS submitted to DYCD a document entitled "Studio Rental Agreement," which she
attached to the Space Cost Allocation Plan. The Studio Rental Agreement purportedly bore
the signatures of both HARRIS- as CIGG's Executive Director- and Landlord #1, and
stated that Landlord #1 had agreed to provide CIGG with the exclusive use of the location for
"movement-based work such as photography, media production, or movement rehearsals,
classes, workshops, and performances" for a one-year period.

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14.

Contrary to the defendant PAMELA HARRIS's representations to

DYCD, Landlord #1 had not entered into the Studio Rental Agreement, or any agreement,
with CIGG to rent the location described in the Studio Rental Agreement. Rather, HARRIS
created the Studio Rental Agreement, forged Landlord #1 's signature, submitted the
agreement to DYCD and falsely represented that CIGG had entered into the rental lease
agreement with Landlord # 1.
15.

On or about January 30, 2015, DYCD, based on the defendant

PAMELA HARRIS's false representations, approved CIGG's proposed use of the $58,750 it
had been awarded by the NYC Council.
16.

On or about March 10, 2015, CIGG received, via interstate wire

transfer, $42,740 of the NYC Council discretionary funds into its checking account
maintained at TD Bank, N.A., in Brooklyn, held in CIGG's name (the "CIGG TD Bank
Account"). Prior to the fund transfer, there was $772.15 in the CIGG TD Bank Account.
17.

Approximately one month later, on or about April 10, 2015, the

defendant PAMELA HARRIS issued check number 377 drawn against the CIGG TD Bank
Account in the amount of $22,800 ("Check 377"). HARRIS wrote ''studio rent" in the
memo line of the check. HARRIS issued Check 3 77 to herself and deposited the check into
her personal bank account maintained at Santander Bank, N.A. In the weeks immediately
following her deposit of Check 377 into her personal checking account, HARRIS used the
funds held in the account to make online payments to several retailers, including Victoria's
Secret and Kohl's, to pay the monthly mortgage payment on the Coney Island Residence,
and to purchase airline and cruise tickets for herself and her spouse totaling nearly $10,000.

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18.

On or about July 10, 2015, in order to conceal her fraud from DYCD,

the defendant PAMELA HARRIS submitted a Program Expense Report Summary to DYCD
in which she falsely represented to DYCD that Check 377 had been issued to Landlord #1 as
a "rental space" payment.
B.

The Scheme to Defraud the NYC Council: Fiscal Year 2016
19.

On or about July 17, 2015, CIGG was awarded $35,000 in NYC·

Council discretionary funds for fiscal year 2016.
20.

On or about April 6, 2016, the defendant PAMELA HARRIS caused

the submission of another Space Cost Allocation Plan to DYCD.
21.

In this Space Cost Allocation Plan, the defendant PAMELA HARRIS

represented to DYCD that CIGG would use $11,400 of the NYC Council discretionary funds
to rent the location owned by Landlord #1 during Fiscal Year 2016. In support of the
funding request, HARRIS caused to be submitted portions of the same Studio Rental
Agreement that she submitted to DYCD during the previous fiscal year. As with the
previous year's submission, the Studio Rental Agreement falsely represented that CIGG had
entered into a rental lease agreement with Landlord #1.
22.

On or about June 28, 2016, based, in part, on the defendant PAMELA

HARRIS's false representations, DYCD approved CIGG's proposed use of the $35,000 it
had been awarded by the NYC Council. On or about November 23, 2016 and December 20,
2016, CIGG received, via interstate wire transfers, $33,450 in NYC Council discretionary
funds into the CIGG TD Bank Account in Brooklyn.
23.

Contrary to the representations made by PAMELA HARRIS, CIGG did

not pay any NYC Council discretionary funds for space rental. Instead, HARRIS and Co-

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Conspirator #1, an individual whose identity is known to the Grand Jury, diverted the funds
to HARRIS for her personal use.
C.

The Scheme to Defraud FEMA
24.

On or about October 29, 2012, various counties of New York,

including Kings County, were struck by Hurricane Sandy, which caused significant damage
due to wind, rain and flooding.
25.

On or about October 30, 2012, President Barack Obama signed a

Presidential Disaster Declaration for the State of New York (FEMA-4085-DR) pursuant to
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 51215206 (the "Stafford Act"). This declaration entitled eligible individuals who were displaced
from their homes by Hurricane Sandy to seek financial assistance from FEMA.
26.

At the time of Hurricane Sandy, the defendant PAMELA HARRIS and

her spouse lived in a three-story, one-family residence located on Neptune Avenue in the
Coney Island section of Brooklyn (the "Coney Island Residence").
27.

In or about and between December 2012 and January 2014, the

defendant PAMELA HARRIS completed and submitted several Form 010-0-12 Applications
for Continued Temporary Housing Assistance ("Temporary Housing Applications") to
FEMA. In each Temporary Housing Application, HARRIS represented to FEMA that she
and her spouse were unable to live at the Coney Island Residence because of the damage
caused by Hurricane Sandy, and were instead renting the first floor of a residence located in
Staten Island, New York, (the "Staten Island Residence"), a home occupied by Landlord #2,
an individual whose identity is known to the Grand Jury.

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28.

In support of each Temporary Housing Application, the defendant

PAMELA HARRIS also submitted proof of payment to FEMA in the form of cash receipts,
which indicated that between November 2012 and January 2014, HARRIS had made rent
payments of between $1,550 and $2,500 in cash each month to Landlord #2. The receipts
were purportedly signed by both HARRIS and Landlord #2. HARRIS also submitted to
FEMA lease agreements that were purportedly entered into between HARRIS and
Landlord #2. The lease agreements were purportedly signed by both HARRIS and
Landlord #2.
29.

Contrary to the defendant PAMELA HARRIS's representations

contained in the Temporary Housing Applications that she submitted to FEMA, neither
HARRIS nor her spouse lived at the Staten Island Residence following Hurricane Sandy.
Nor did HARRIS pay rent to Landlord #2 to live at the Staten Island Residence. In
furtherance of the scheme to defraud, HARRIS created fake lease agreements and receipts,
forged Landlord #2 's signature on the documents, and submitted those documents, along
with the Temporary Housing Applications, to FEMA, falsely representing that she had
entered into a rental lease agreement with Landlord #2 and paid rent to live at the Staten
Island Residence in the months following Hurricane Sandy.
30.

In or about and between November 2012 and January 2014, FEMA,

based on the defendant PAMELA HARRIS' s false representations contained in the
Temporary Housing Applications, lease agreements and receipts that HARRIS submitted,
disbursed approximately $24,800 to HARRIS in temporary housing assistance.

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D.

The Scheme to Defraud HUD
31.

On or about January 29, 2013, President Obama signed the "Disaster

Relief Appropriations Act, 2013," into law. The Appropriations Act made federal
appropriations totaling approximately $16 billion to provide disaster assistance to victims of
Hurricane Sandy.
32.

HUD, which was responsible for administering the funds, distributed a

portion of the funds to New York City, which, in tum, established the Build it Back program
(the ''NYC Build it Back Program"). The NYC Build it Back Program assisted
homeowners, landlords and tenants affected by Hurricane Sandy within all five boroughs of
New York City including repair, repair with elevation or rebuilding of damaged homes and
reimbursement for repair work already performed. As part of the rebuilding efforts, the
NYC Build it Back Program provided financial assistance with housing costs for
homeowners who were required to temporarily vacate their properties due to Build It Backrelated construction.
33.

On or about July 29, 2013, the defendant PAMELA HARRIS

submitted an application to the NYC Build it Back Program seeking financial assistance to
repair the Coney Island Residence. HARRIS represented in the application that she and her
spouse were living at the Coney Island Residence. The following day, on or about July 30,
2013, HARRIS submitted to FEMA a Temporary Housing Application and fake rental
payment receipts bearing Landlord #2's forged signature and claiming that she and her
spouse were living at the Staten Island Residence, not the Coney Island Residence.
34.

On or about March 24, 2016, the NYC Build it Back Program informed

the defendant PAMELA HARRIS that it had approved funding to elevate the Coney Island

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Residence and that she might be eligible for temporary relocation assistance in the event she
needed to live at another location while the Coney Island Residence was being repaired.
Before it disbursed temporary relocation assistance funds to displaced homeowners, the NYC
Build it Back Program required homeowners to submit documentation regarding any
previous financial assistance for temporary housing they received from other sources
following Hurricane Sandy.
35.

On or about April 11, 2016, the defendant PAMELA HARRIS

submitted a form "F19 - Temporary Housing Expense Update" to the NYC Build it Back
Program seeking financial assistance for her temporary housing needs in the event she was
displaced from the Coney Island Residence while it was being repaired. In support of her
application, HARRIS made the same false claim to the NYC Build it Back Program that she
made to FEMA, i.e., that because of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy to the Coney
Island Residence, she was forced to leave the residence and rent the first floor of the Staten
Island Residence. In support of her application, HARRIS submitted the same fake receipts
and lease agreements bearing Landlord #2's forged signature that HARRIS had submitted to
FEMA between 2012 and 2014 when she received $24,800 from FEMA for temporary
housing assistance.
3'6.

On or about July 30, 2016, in connection with the scheduled raise in

elevation of the Coney Island Residence through the NYC Build it Back Program, the
defendant PAMELA HARRIS caused to be submitted to the NYC Build it Back Program a
Construction License Agreement ("CLA"), which stated that HARRIS' s spouse was the
owner "by will" of the structure neighboring the Coney Island Residence ("the Adjacent
Residence") and that HARRIS 's spouse authorized the NYC Build it Back Program to

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lawfully enter the Adjacent Residence in order to engage in construction on the Coney Island
Residence. At the time that the CLA was submitted, HARRIS's spouse was not the lawful
owner of the Adjacent Residence, "by will" or otherwise.
E.

The Scheme to Defraud the Bankruptcy Court
37.

On or about November 13, 2013, the defendant PAMELA HARRIS

and her joint debtor spouse filed a voluntary Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition in Bankruptcy
Court.
38.

At the time of the filing, the defendant PAMELA HARRIS and her

joint debtor spouse owed approximately $60,000 in mortgage arrears on the Coney Island
Residence. One benefit of filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection is the opportunity for
a debtor to save her residence from foreclosure by staying foreclosure proceedings and
curing delinquent mortgage payments. Nevertheless, the debtor must make all mortgage
payments that come due while the Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceeding is pending. Thus,
before the bankruptcy court approves a debtor's Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan, the debtor must
establish that she has enough regular income to remain current on her monthly mortgage
payments and cure any arrears. If a debtor cannot establish that her monthly regular income
will be sufficient to make the required payments, her bankruptcy plan will not be confirmed
and foreclosure proceedings will not be stayed.
39.

Between in or about September 24, 2013 and January 8, 2014, while

the defendant PAMELA HARRIS was falsely (epresenting to FEMA that she was paying
$1,550 each month in rent to Landlord #2 to live at the Staten Island Residence, HARRIS, in
an effort to inflate her monthly income, falsely represented to the Bankruptcy Court that
Landlord #2 was providing HARRIS with $1,200 each month in financial assistance.

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40.

In connection with her voluntarily filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition,

the defendant PAMELA HARRIS submitted a Form Schedule I- Current Income of
Individual Debtor(s) ("Schedule I"), in which she represented that she and her joint debtor
spouse were receiving $1,200 per month in "assistance from family." Before signing the
Schedule J, HARRIS "declare[d] under penalty of perjury that [she] [had] read the foregoing
documents ... and that they are true and correct to the best of [her] knowledge, information,
and belief."
41.

On or about January 8, 2014, the defendant PAMELA HARRIS was

interviewed, under oath, by the Bankruptcy Trustee. During the sworn interview, HARRIS
represented that she and her joint debtor spouse were receiving $1,200 each month from
Landlord #2, and that they had been receiving the assistance for "almost a year" and ·
"definitely since after Hurricane Sandy."
42.

Contrary to the defendant PAMELA HARRIS' s representations to the

Bankruptcy Court and Bankruptcy Trustee, Landlord #2 had not provided any financial
assistance to HARRIS.
43.

In addition to falsely representing that she was receiving $1 ,200 each

month from Landlord #2, the defendant PAMELA HARRIS also concealed financial assets
from the Bankruptcy Court to avoid having the assets used to pay her creditors.
44.

On or about November 13, 2013, HARRIS submitted a Schedule B -

Personal Property Form ("Schedule B"), which required her to list "all personal property of
the debtor of whatever kind," including all cash on hand, and funds maintained in checking,
savings or other financial accounts. Before signing the Schedule B, HARRIS "declare[d]

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under penalty of perjury that [she] [had] read the foregoing documents ... and that they are
true and correct to the best of [her] knowledge, information, and belief."
45.

HARRIS represented that she and her joint debtor spouse had a total

of $2,645 in cash and funds maintained in financial accounts. HARRIS failed to disclose on
the Schedule B that at the time of the filing she owned a money market account held at
Sovereign (Santander) Bank, N.A. ("Santander MMA") that contained $10,010.08.
HARRIS had opened the Santander MMAjust six months earlier on or about May 3, 2013,
and deposited $10,000 into the account the same day.

III.

Obstruction of Justice
46.

Beginning in or about July 2016, a federal Grand Jury sitting in the

United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York began investigating the
defendant PAMELA HARRIS for various fraud schemes (the "Grand Jury Investigation").
47.

In or about and between March 2017 and May 2017, the defendant

PAMELA HARRIS tampered with Landlord #2 and John Doe, an individual whose identity
is known to the Grand Jury. Among other things, HARRIS instructed Landlord #2 and
John Doe to falsely represent to federal law enforcement agents conducting the Grand Jury
Investigation that HARRIS lived at the Staten Island Residence for approximately one year
following Hurricane Sandy and that HARRIS had paid Landlord #2 $1,500 each month in
cash as rent payment. Based on HARRIS 's instructions, Landlord #2 and John Doe lied to
federal law enforcement agents conducting the Grand Jury Investigation.

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COUNT ONE
(Wire Fraud - NYC Council)
48.

The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 47 are realleged

and il)corporated as if set forth fully in this paragraph.
49.

In or about and between August 2014 and July 2015, both dates being

approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the
defendant PAMELA HARRIS did knowingly and intentionally devise a scheme and artifice
to defraud the NYC Council, and to obtain money and property from the NYC Council by
means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises, and for the
purpose of executing such scheme and artifice, did transmit and cause to be transmitted, by
means of wire communication in interstate commerce, one or more writings, signs, signals,
pictures and sounds, to wit: an interstate wire transfer in the amount of $42,740 into CIGG's
TD Bank Account in Brooklyn, New York on March 10, 2015.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 3551 et seq.)
COUNT TWO
(Wire Fraud - NYC Council)
50.

The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 47 are realleged

and incorporated as if set forth fully in this paragraph.
51.

In or about and between July 2015 and January 2017, both dates being

approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the
defendant PAMELA HARRIS did knowingly and intentionally devise a scheme and artifice
to defraud the NYC Council, and to obtain money and property from the NYC Council by
means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises, and for the
purpose of executing such scheme and artifice, did transmit and cause to be transmitted, by

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means of wire communication in interstate commerce, one or more writings, signs, signals,
pictures and sounds, to wit: interstate wire transfers in the amount of$33,425 into CIGG's
TD Bank Account in Brooklyn, New York on November 23, 2016 and December 20, 2016.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 3551 et seq.)
COUNT THREE
(Wire Fraud Conspiracy - NYC Council)
52.

The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 47 are realleged

and incorporated as if set forth fully in this paragraph.
53.

In or about and between July 2015 and January 2017, both dates being

approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the
defendant PAMELA HARRIS, together with others, did knowingly and intentionally
conspire to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud the NYC Council, and to obtain money
and property from the NYC Council by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses,
representations and promises, and for the purpose of executing such scheme and artifice, to
transmit and cause to be transmitted, by means of wire communication in interstate
commerce, one or more writings, signs, signals, pictures and sounds, to wit: wire transfers,
contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1349 and 3551 et seq.)
COUNTFOUR
(Disaster Relief Fraud- FEMA)
54.

The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 47 are realleged

and incorporated as if set forth fully in this paragraph.
55.

In or about and between November 2012 and January 2014, both dates

being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the

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defendant PAMELA HARRIS did knowingly and intentionally make one or more materially
false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations, and make and use one or more
false writings and documents knowing the same to contain materially false, fictitious, and
fraudulent statements and representations, in a matter that involved benefits authorized,
transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed and paid in connection with an emergency
declaration under Section 401 of the Stafford Act, to wit: the Presidential Disaster
Declaration for the State of New York (FEMA-4085-DR), which benefits were transported in
the mail during the authorization, transportation, transmission, transfer, disbursement, and
payment, in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections I040(a)(2), I040(b)(l),
1040(b)(2),1040(b)(3) and 3551 et .lliJ..)
COUNT FIVE
(False Statements - FEMA)
56.

The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 47 are realleged

and incorporated as if set forth fully in this paragraph.
57.

In or about and between November 2012 and January 2014, both dates

being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the
defendant PAMELA HARRIS did knowingly and willfully make one or more materially
false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations, and make and use one or more
false writings and documents knowing the same to contain materially false, fictitious, and
fraudulent statements and entries, in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch
of the Government of the United States, to wit: FEMA, in that HARRIS falsely claimed in
applications for federal assistance that she made rental payments to Landlord #2 to rent the

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first floor of the Staten Island Residence following Hurricane Sandy in or about and between
November 2012 and January 2014, when, as HARRIS then and there well knew and
believed, she did not rent the first floor of the Staten Island Residence or make any rental
payments.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 100l(a)(2), 1001(a)(3), 2 and
3551 et seq.)
COUNT SIX
(False Statements-HUD)
58.

The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 47 are realleged

and incorporated as if set forth fully in this paragraph.
59.

On or about April 11, 2016, within the Eastern District of New York

and elsewhere, the defendant PAMELA HARRIS did knowingly and willfully make one or
more materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations, and make and
use one or more false writings and documents knowing the same to contain materially false,
fictitious, and fraudulent statements and entries, in a matter within the jurisdiction of the
executive branch of the Government of the United States, to wit: HUD, in that HARRIS
falsely claimed in applications for federal assistance that she made rental payments to
Landlord #2 to rent the first floor of the Staten Island Residence following Hurricane Sandy
in or about and between November 2012 and January 2014, when, as HARRIS then and
there well knew and believed, she did not rent the first floor of the Staten Island Residence or
make any rental payments.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1001(a)(2), 1001(a)(3), 2 and
3551 et seq.)

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COUNTSEVEN
(False Statements - HUD)
60.

The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 47 are realleged

and incorporated as if set forth fully in this paragraph.
61.

On or about July 30, 2016, within the Eastern District of New York and

elsewhere, the defendant PAMELA HARRIS did knowingly and willfully make one or more
materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations, and make and use
one or more false writings and documents knowing the same to contain materially false,
fictitious, and fraudulent statements and entries, in a matter within the jurisdiction of the
executive branch of the Government of the United States, to wit: HUD, in that HARRIS
falsely claimed in applications for federal assistance that her spouse owned the Adjacent
Residence, when, as HARRIS then and there well knew and believed, her spouse did not own
the Adjacent Residence.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 100l(a)(2), 100l(a)(3), 2 and
3551 et seq.)
COUNT EIGHT
(Bankruptcy Fraud - False Declaration)
.

62.

'

The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 4 7 are realleged

and incorporated as if set forth fully in this paragraph.
63.

In or about and between November 2013 and January 2014, both dates

being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the
defendant PAMELA HARRIS, together with others, did knowingly, intentionally and
fraudulently make a false declaration, certificate, verification, and statement under penalty of
perjury as permitted under Section 1746 of Title 28, in and in relati'.on to a case under

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Title 11, to wit: falsely stating that she and her joint debtor spouse were receiving $1,200 per
month in financial assistance from Landlord #2.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 152(3), 2 and 3551 et seq.)
COUNT NINE
(Bankruptcy Fraud- Concealment)
64.

The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 47 are realleged

and incorporated as if set forth fully in this paragraph.
65.

On or about and between September 24, 2013 and November 13, 2013,

both dates being approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and
elsewhere, the defendant PAMELA HARRIS, together with others, did knowingly,
intentionally and fraudulently conceal from a custodian, trustee, marshal, and other officer of
the court charged with the control and custody of property, and, in the connection with a case
under Title 11, from creditors and the United States Trustee, property belonging to the estate
of a debtor, to wit: $10,010.08 held in a bank account maintained at Santander Bank, N.A.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 152(1), 2 and 3551 et seq.)
COUNT TEN
(Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice)
66.

The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 47 are realleged

and incorporated as if set forth fully in this paragraph.
67.

In or about and between March 2017 and May 2017, both dates being

approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the
defendant PAMELA HARRIS, together with others, did knowingly, intentionally and

 20
corruptly conspire to obstruct, influence and impede an official proceeding, to wit: a federal
grand jury proceeding, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(c)(2).
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1512(k) and 3551 et seq.)
COUNT ELEVEN
(Witness Tampering)
68.

The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 47 are realleged

and incorporated as if set forth fully in this paragraph.
69.

In or about and between March 2017 and May 2017, both dates being

approximate and inclusive, within the Eastern District of New York and elsewhere, the
defendant PAMELA HARRIS, together with others, did knowingly, intentionally and
corruptly persuade another person, and attempt to do so, with intent to hinder, delay, and
prevent the communication to a law enforcement officer of the United States of information
relating to the commission and possible commission of a Federal Offense.
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1512(b)(3), 2 and 3551 et seq.)
CRIMINAL FORFEITURE ALLEGATION
ASTOCOUNTSONETHROUGHTHREE,AND
EIGHT THROUGH ELEVEN
70.

The United States hereby gives notice to the defendant that, upon her

conviction of any of the offenses charged in Counts One through Three, and Eight through
Eleven, the government will seek forfeiture in accordance with Title 18, United States Code,
Section 98l(a)(l)(C) and Title 28, United States Code, Section 246l(c), which require any
person convicted of such offenses to forfeit any property, real or personal, constituting, or
derived from, proceeds obtained directly or indirectly as a result of such offenses.

 '

.
21
71.

If any of the above-described forfeitable property, as a result of any act

or omission of the defendant:
(a)

cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence;

(b)

has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party;

( c)

has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court;

( d)

has been substantially diminished in value; or

(e)

has been commingled with other property which cannot be

divided without difficulty;
it is the intent of the United States, pursuant to Title 21 , United States Code, Section 853(p),
to seek forfeiture of any other property of the defendant up to the value of the forfeitable
property described in this forfeiture allegation, including but not limited to the following: any
and all pensions, annuities or other benefits to which HARRIS may be entitled as a result of
her employment with the New York City Department of Correction, and any and proceeds
traceable thereto.
(Title 18, United States Code, Section 981(a)( l )(C); Title 21, United States
Code, Section 853(p); Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c))

A TRUE BILL

FOREPERSON

RlCHARD P. DONOGHUE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
EASTERN DISTRJCT OF NEW YORK

 F. # 2016ROl315
FORM DB0-J4
JUN. 85

No.

UNITED STATES DlSTRICT COURT
EASTERN District of NEW YORK
CRIMINAL DIVISION

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
vs.

Pamela Harris,
Defendant.

INDICTMENT
(T. 18, U.S.C., §§ 152(1), 152(3), 981(a)(l)(C), 981(a)(l)(D)(ii),
1001(a)(2), 100I(a)(3), 1343,1349, 1512(c)(2), I512(k), 2 ·a nd 3551 et
seq.; T. 21 , U.S.C., § 853(p); T. 28, U.S.C., § 246I(c).)
A true bill.

Filed in open court this _-- - - - - · _ ___ __ __ _ day,
of ____________ A.D. 20 ____ _

Clerk

Bail,$ __________ _

Erik Paulsen, Assistant U.S. Attorney (718) 254-6135
Robert Polemeni, Assistant U.S. Attorney (718) 254-6044