(The Center Square) – Three people are accused of fraudulently taking money from the Knox County Emergency Rental Assistance Program, according to a report from the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office.
Amanda McKay, a former employee of the Knox County Grants and Community Development, is accused of registering her former husband as a landlord and sending him more than $66,000 for emergency rental assistance when her former husband was not a landlord and did not own any properties, according to the report.
She also registered as a landlord and made out more than $9,800 in checks to herself, the comptroller’s report said. Another $3,686.24 of unauthorized utility payments were made to McKay and her former husband, the report said.
Investigators also questioned another $9,073.24 in payments but could not determine if McKay was ineligible to receive the money.
A Knox County grand jury indicted McCay on charges of one count of theft over $60,000, one count of violation of the Computer Crimes Act over $60,000, one count of forgery over $60,000, and two counts of official misconduct.
The investigation also accuses Jennifer Harper, a housing stabilization specialist for the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee, of falsifying a record that claimed her husband was renting a property to her son. Harper and her husband, James, received more than $12,000.
“The rental agreement documented that the building had water and electricity included, but investigators determined the building had no active water or electric utilities in service during the rental agreement period and that the building appeared to have significant damage and needed major repairs, leading investigators to question whether anyone lived in the building during the period reviewed,” the investigation said.
Jennifer and James Harper were indicted on one count of theft over $10,000 and one count of violation of the Computer Crimes Act over $10,000.
Knox County and Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee called the comptroller’s office after noticing questionable transactions. The investigation covered a period between January 2020 and July 2023.
“Knox County and Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee officials should take steps to ensure their oversight and internal control systems are effective to prevent misappropriation,” said Comptroller Jason Mumpower. “I’m pleased to note the deficiencies that contributed to these acts are already being corrected.”
