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$72,000 in Rent? The Shocking COVID Relief Scam That Landed This Man in Prison
**Imagine this:** You lose your job during a pandemic. Desperate, you apply for emergency rental assistance. Except, what if you *weren't* actually struggling? What if you fabricated the entire application, pocketing tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars? That's exactly what Geary Simon did. This is his story—a cautionary tale of COVID-19 relief fraud.
A Web of Lies: The Making of a COVID-19 Scam
Geary Simon, a repeat offender, spun a web of deceit so elaborate, it almost worked. In June 2021, amidst the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, he applied for rental assistance through the D.C. government's Stronger Together by Assisting You D.C. (STAY D.C.) program. His application? A masterpiece of fabrication. He claimed to owe a fictitious landlord, "Robert Sutton," a staggering $72,000 in back rent at a non-existent address. The phone number? Fake. The email? Also fake. Everything, except his name and (conveniently different) mailing address, was a bold-faced lie.
But here's the twist: This elaborate ruse almost completely succeeded.
The $38,000 Payday: How the Scam Unraveled
The District of Columbia’s Department of Human Services (DC-DHS) fell victim to Simon's deception. They approved his application, issuing a check for a jaw-dropping $38,560. Where did this money go? Not to rent. Instead, Simon deposited it into a trust and used the taxpayer-funded relief money to pay for **private school tuition** and child support. The audacity!
**Want to know how this elaborate scam unraveled? Read on...**
The Fall: 15 Months Behind Bars
The FBI's investigation into Simon's fraudulent activities was meticulous. The evidence was irrefutable. On July 10, 2025, Simon's luck ran out. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison for defrauding the STAY D.C. program and illegally possessing a firearm. This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of COVID-19 relief fraud.
**Keywords:** COVID-19 relief fraud, STAY DC, rental assistance fraud, FBI investigation, Geary Simon, DC-DHS, fraudulent application, taxpayer money, prison sentence
The Takeaway: Protecting Taxpayer Funds
Geary Simon’s story is a cautionary tale. It highlights the importance of protecting taxpayer funds and the consequences of committing COVID-19 relief fraud. Learn from Simon's mistakes, and understand how agencies fight fraud. Staying informed is crucial in these critical times. What else could be lurking behind the scenes of similar programs? The answer may surprise you.

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