Victims of domestic violence in Boston defrauded in alleged public housing lease scam

Victims of domestic abuse in the city were reportedly defrauded in an alleged public housing lease scam, according to the Suffolk DA’s Office.

A Braintree woman working as a case manager for a Roxbury safe haven for survivors of domestic violence and a Dorchester man have been charged with defrauding the victims of domestic abuse.

The pair is accused of collecting rent for dwellings that the victims never occupied.

Rosalyn Webb, 55, was charged with one count of larceny over $1,200 by single scheme, and 30-year-old man Nathaniel Davis was charged with five counts of larceny by check over $1,200.

Boston Police in April had received a report from Stone House management that a former employee who served as a case worker, later identified as Webb, fraudulently collected rent checks from domestic violence victims receiving services from Stone House.

Management at Stone House told police that three people were listed as living at a Dorchester residence, belonging to Davis. But when a Stone House employee arrived at Davis’ residence to confirm, the employee found out that none of the three people actually lived there.

Webb provided false information and filed false inspections and leases so Davis could collect rent, according to the DA’s Office. Davis cashed checks from December 2023 through February 2024 for the listed tenants, totaling $21,250.

A tenant filed a written complaint with Stone House, stating that Webb forced her to sign a lease for a residence connected with Stone House. However, Webb told the tenant she had to pay $525 in cash per month directly to her.

Webb was terminated shortly after Stone House management discovered the scheme. Stone House provides support services and housing for survivors of domestic violence.

Both Webb and Davis were summonsed to court. Webb has a 35-page criminal record dating back to the 1980s.

“Defrauding anyone for personal gain is brazen enough, but preying on those in dire need of services is particularly contemptible,” Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden said in a statement.

“I applaud the tenant for speaking up when she realized something was amiss, and I thank the Stone House management team for following up on the complaint and then reporting this to authorities,” Hayden said.

Related Articles

Crime & Public Safety |


Editorial: Old-school scams pale compared with today’s consumer fraud

Crime & Public Safety |


Ex-Massachusetts Republican state senator convicted of pandemic fraud, making false statements on federal tax returns

Crime & Public Safety |


Last Boston Police officer sentenced in evidence warehouse overtime fraud scheme

Crime & Public Safety |


Chinese billionaire convicted of fraud    

The judge during the arraignment released both Webb and Davis on personal recognizance. Both are due back in court on Nov. 6 for pre-trial hearings.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous post Hurricane Milton intensifies into Category 5 storm, takes aim at Florida
Next post Two Massachusetts scientists receive Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovery of microRNA