WASHINGTON, DC – Khin Phoo Ngon, a 27-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in D.C. Superior Court to 23 months in prison for her involvement in a scheme that defrauded a COVID-19 tenant assistance program out of more than $245,000. U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott, and Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas announced the sentencing.
In addition to her prison term, Judge Jason Park ordered Ngon to pay $206,320 in restitution to the District government and a $600 fine to the victims compensation fund. She will also undergo three years of supervised release following her imprisonment.
Ngon admitted in her guilty plea that she submitted seven fraudulent applications in 2021 to the Stronger Together by Assisting You (STAY DC) program, which was designed to help renters cover unpaid rent and utilities due to hardships from the pandemic. While she was the sole tenant of her apartment at 1111 New Jersey Ave SE, two of her applications misrepresented her income to qualify for aid.
Furthermore, Ngon submitted applications for addresses she no longer resided at or never lived, including using a family member’s identity without their knowledge to claim tens of thousands in back rent. In total, her fraudulent actions led to her unlawfully receiving large sums from the program, which were intended to assist those genuinely in need during the pandemic.
Ngon pleaded guilty on April 23, 2024, to multiple felony counts including first-degree fraud, theft, and identity theft, reflecting serious violations of trust and legal standards.
