Former Framingham Housing Authority Employee Charged With Stealing $70,000 in Rent Payments

FRAMINGHAM, MA - A Milford woman was charged today with stealing over $70,000 in rent payments from to the Framingham Housing Authority, the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement.

Rosa A. Famania, 33, was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds.

Famania worked for the town housing authority from 2010 to 2015, according to the charges.

Famania’s responsibilities at the housing authority included collecting cash rent payments from tenants; recording these cash payments in the electronic accounting system; securing the cash in a locked cash box; and, depositing the cash payments into a housing authority bank account, a release from the Justice Department said.

The complaint alleges that, between February 2014 and August 2015, Famania stole approximately 181 cash rental payments totaling $70,649 from the housing authority and utilized an town accounting software program to assist in concealing the theft, a release said. It is alleged that Famania came into possession of the rent payments, but did not deposit them into the FHA bank account, the release said.

Instead, Famania allegedly kept the cash rent payments and adjusted the tenants’ balance downward in the electronic accounting system.

In a statement today the U.S. Department of Justice authorities said federal agents discovered that approximately $55,100 in cash was deposited into a joint account maintained by Famania and her boyfriend between July 2014 and July 2015, and between February 2014 and July 2014, nineteen U.S. Postal Service money orders totaling $17,900 were deposited into another bank account maintained by Famania.

Famania faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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