Union City couple charged with defrauding the housing authority

UNION CITY, Ind. — A Union City couple faces charges after they reportedly defrauded the Union City Housing Authority of thousands of dollars by lying about their employment status on an approved application.

According to court documents filed earlier this month in Randolph County, 67-year-old Kenneth Stumpff and 55-year-old Letitia Stumpff have been charged with welfare fraud, but the amount ranges from $750 to $50,000, a sixth-degree felony. ; and one count of fraud – where the loss is between $750 and $50,000, a Level 6 offense.

Investigators were first made aware of the charges against the Stumpffs in September 2023; they first began receiving benefits in 2020. Officials say the Stumpffs filled out an application for assistance and claimed their only source of income was Social Security benefits.

Once their application was approved, the Stumpffs began receiving benefits from the Union City Housing Authority to cover utility bills and rent. Authorities told investigators that in September 2022 they learned that the Stumpffs reportedly owned businesses in Louisiana and had recently sold a home in Louisiana, but neither of these situations had been reported to housing authorities.

After receiving this information, the housing authority began implementing a repayment plan for the Stumpffs. Officials told investigators the total amount the Stumpffs and the housing authority agreed to repay them was $5,492. The documents show that the Stumpffs “faithfully paid $100 per month for nine months.”

In June 2023, authorities reportedly received an anonymous letter from an individual who apparently “knew the Stumpffs when they lived in Louisiana.” The letter said they both worked for Bennett Trucking, sold their home and did not pay taxes. This led to further investigation by authorities into the Stumpffs.

“Upon receiving all of this information, the housing authority began the process of terminating Stumpff’s assistance due to his failure to report his property and additional income,” the documents read.

During the termination hearing, authorities voted in favor of a motion to charge the Stumpff family with lying on applications and fraudulently receiving benefits.

In a March 2024 interview, the Stumpffs told investigators they didn’t know they had to report the home sale or total income from Louisiana because it took place in another state. They also emphasized that they received less money from the sale than stated.

Investigators told the Stumpffs that “from the housing authority’s perspective, because they did not report additional income, they may not have been eligible for the benefits they received.”

“It appears that they were misled in their application,” the documents read.