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.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.