Former Housing Authority Worker Accused of Rent Scam

A former San Diego County Housing Authority employee was charged Friday in federal court with stealing more than $9,000 in 1988 by concocting a scheme that involved creating phony applicants for a rent-subsidy program.

Robert Rangel, 39, of Chula Vista allegedly created fictitious files for three people and received payments that were sent to a post office box in Chula Vista, Assistant U. S. Atty. Gregory Vega said.

“He opened up phony files and received low-income housing payments,” Vega said. “The program was set up (so that) if you met certain low-income requirements, you would receive assistance making the house payment.”

The program, jointly operated by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and the county Housing Authority, assists low-income people in paying rent. For those who qualify, part of their monthly rent costs are sent directly to the owner of the residence.

Rangel worked for the county as a housing specialist in 1988 from January to September. His duties included examining residences to ensure the amount of rent charged by the owner was fair.

Bob Lerner, public affairs manager for the county, said Rangel was snagged by a continuing audit of county agencies.

The auditing program “is in progress in all the county departments,” Lerner said. “During (Rangel’s) 10-month tenure, the department discovered some shortages.”

Lerner said evidence was turned over to the FBI and the district attorney’s office in September, 1988, after sufficient evidence had been collected.

If convicted, Rangel could be jailed up to five years, fined up to $250,000, or both. A Feb. 27 pretrial hearing before Judge Howard B. Turrentine has been set.