On October 18, 2016, a DeKalb County Grand Jury indicted a HomeSafe Georgia beneficiary for a false statements and writings charge.

HomeSafe Georgia, a division of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, is a federally funded, state operated mortgage assistance program that helps homeowners avoid foreclosure. Homeowners must be Georgia citizens who are unemployed/underemployed and meet eligibility criteria.

Michael Reynolds was indicted for one count of false statements (O.C.G.A. §16-10-20).  The indictment alleges that in 2012, Mr. Reynolds submitted a falsified application to HomeSafe Georgia.  Mr. Reynolds misrepresented his marital status and household type in order to qualify for mortgage assistance.  Mr. Reynolds claimed that he was single living in a single adult household; however, Mr. Reynolds was married to Phyllis Reynolds, who was a HomeSafe Georgia employee.  Mr. Reynolds was arrested on December 16, 2016.

The case was referred by the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) to the State of Georgia Office of Inspector General (GA OIG) for investigation.  The case was investigated by SIGTARP Special Agent Terry Crump, former GA OIG Deputy Inspector General Bill Donaldson, and former GA OIG Investigator Bethan Browning.  The Georgia Office of the Attorney General’s Assistant Attorney General Blair L. McGowan is prosecuting the case on behalf of the State of Georgia.