Arrests in housing fraud crackdown now 65

ATLANTA - The number of arrests now made in that government housng fraud crackdown is 65 and authorities are still looking for another 16 people.

They are charged with lying to get $1.1 million in government housing subsidies.

So far, the only northeast Georgian who has been arrested is Lillie Benton of Athens

Authorities said Wednesday they plan to charge a total of 81 suspects with state charges of theft by taking or making false statements to obtain federal funds. They say the suspects lied to enroll in the federal Section 8 Housing voucher program.

The sweep involved agents from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the state Department of Community Affairs.

Authorities say they hope to return the money to people who are in need of financial assistance for housing.