3 from Pike County, including police chief, indicted for alleged scheme to defraud U.S. government

Three people from Pike County - the Brundidge Police Chief being among them - have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged roles in a scheme to defraud the United States government. 

According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice for the Middle District of Alabama, the three named in the indictment are Brundidge Police Chief Samuel Cornelius Green, 50; Sharon Jones Green, 53; and Schemillia Levera Fenn, 40, all from Troy.

The defendants are accused in a conspiracy to fraudulently receive funds through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

"When creating this program, Congress made up to $46 billion in funding available to assist households that were unable to pay rent or utilities due to financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," said the statement. "It is alleged that the conspiracy began on March 2, 2021, and continued through at least November 9, 2021."

Green was charged with 13 counts, including one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; three counts of money laundering; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; six counts of wire fraud; and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

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Sharon Green was charged with nine counts, including one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, three counts of money laundering, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Schemillia Fenn was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

If convicted, all face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison in addition to "significant" fines and restitution. Samuel and Sharon Green will face an additional two years for the charge of aggravated identity theft. 

All three were taken into custody by the United States Marshals Service on Thursday morning.