Two Lenoir County women, Kendra Edmondson and Britteny Dryer, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud for submitting $187,000 in fraudulent North Carolina Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (NC HOPE) applications. Operating between November 2020 and December 2021, the defendants utilized fictitious tenant lease agreements to secure emergency relief funds authorized by the federal CARES Act.
In Plain English: The Clinical Takeaway
- Emergency Resource Allocation: Federal relief programs like the NC HOPE initiative were designed to maintain housing stability and prevent evictions during a public health crisis.
- Forensic Auditing and Accountability: Multi-agency investigations involving bodies like the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG) rely on financial cross-referencing to identify administrative discrepancies and prosecute misuse of public funds.
The Mechanics of Pandemic Relief Fraud and Judicial Fallout
According to announcements from U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Kendra Edmondson, 39, and Britteny Dryer, 35, admitted to orchestrating a scheme that drained federal reserves intended for vulnerable populations. Between November 2020 and December 2021, the pair submitted 23 fraudulent applications featuring fictitious tenant lease agreements across multiple Lenoir County properties. Through these fabricated filings, they collected more than $187,000 in federal housing funds designed specifically to prevent evictions and utility shutoffs.
The funding originated from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act), enacted by Congress on March 27, 2020. The legislation authorized $5 billion in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs, administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In North Carolina, the State’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR)—a division of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety—utilized these federal streams to administer the NC HOPE program, which was backed by an initial $51.5 million CDBG allocation alongside $66 million in Coronavirus Relief Fund monies designated for administrative overhead.
| Case Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Defendants | Kendra Edmondson (39), Britteny Dryer (35) |
| Charges | Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud (Case No. 4:26-CR-14-M) |
| Fraudulent Total | More than $187,000 across 23 applications |
| Statutory Exposure | Up to 30 years in federal prison and a $1,000,000 fine per defendant |
| Investigative Agencies | HUD-OIG, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI), USMS, Kinston Police Department |
“These two lowdown fraudsters chose to milk the system by lining their pockets while hardworking taxpayers rolled up their sleeves during the pandemic. Do what your parents taught you, don’t steal. Cheaters. Never. Win,” stated U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle regarding the case.
The joint investigation was spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI), with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and the Kinston Police Department. NCSBI Director Chip Hawley emphasized the cooperative nature of the enforcement effort, noting that inter-agency partnerships remain critical in safeguarding resources intended for public welfare and housing stability during emergencies.
Both defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of up to 30 years in federal prison and a $1,000,000 fine when Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II presides over their sentencing hearings later this year.
Contraindications & When to Consult a Doctor
References
- U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ). Two Lenoir County Women Guilty in $180K COVID Fraud Case. U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Guidelines and CARES Act Implementation.
- North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR). NC HOPE Program Administrative Reports and Emergency Rental Assistance Disbursal Metrics.
