Omaha Man Sentenced For Making a False Statement to Federal Investigators

United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced today that on November 15, 2018, United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Lafi Jafari, age 74, of Omaha, Nebraska, to a term of one year probation and a fine of $20,000 following his felony conviction for making a false statement to federal investigators.

During an investigation conducted by Special Agents with the Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, it was determined that Jafari was a landlord who owned rental properties in Omaha, Nebraska.  A number of these properties participated in an Omaha Housing Authority program, in conjunction with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, to provide low and moderate income individuals with safe and sanitary housing through rent subsidies.

Starting in 2012, Jafari provided cash in amounts ranging from $200 to $700 to a program integrity specialist employed by the Omaha Housing Authority.  The program integrity specialist’s duties included investigating for the presence of non-compliance or fraud perpetrated by tenants, vendors, and landlords participating in the Omaha Housing Authority program.  Over a three-year time span the program integrity specialist received at least $2,100 from Jafari and others associated with him.   

When questioned by special agents whether Jafari knew the Omaha Housing Authority program integrity specialist who had received the payments, Jafari falsely stated that he had never provided anything of value to an employee of the Omaha Housing Authority and that he did not know the program integrity specialist.  

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General.