LOCAL
THA worker’s alleged fraud funded luxury lifestyle, feds say
In part, the suspect used the money to have ‘a celebrity chef cater her private Christmas party,’ prosecutors say
Elena BarreraTallahassee Democrat
July 30, 2026, 1:19 p.m. ET
- Lekishaann Huggins faces 39 federal counts, including bank fraud, identity theft, and money laundering.
- Investigators say the money was used to fund a lavish lifestyle, including luxury goods, vacations, and parties.
- If convicted, she could face decades in prison and be ordered to pay restitution.
The woman now facing dozens of federal charges for a two-year, nearly $400,000 scheme that defrauded the Tallahassee Housing Authority did it to fund her “luxurious lifestyle,” investigators said
That included shoes, purses, accessories and jewelry from major design houses like Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo, Dolce & Gabbana, Coach and more, according to the indictment
Lekishaann Huggins, 45, was indicted by a federal grand jury on 39 counts varying from bank fraud, identity theft, money laundering and false tax filings, U.S. Attorney Jack Heekin of the Northern District of Florida announced in a July 30 press release
Huggins managed of THA’s Housing Choice Voucher Program — also known as Section 8 — which helps low-income families, older adults and people with disabilities afford private housing through funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
The indictment says her role gave her access to tenant and landlord records, as well as housing assistance payments, which provided her the “unique ability as a ‘super user’ ” to change those records
“Specifically, Huggins had the ability to conduct ‘owner change transactions’ in THA’s (systems), whereby she could change bank account information for landlords,” the indictment says
Huggins also owns a company that sells clothes online called Cache Kloset LLC, which was similar in name to a landlord company connected to THA called Cache LLC
Prosecutors say that Huggins “fraudulently changed” Cache LLC’s bank routing and account numbers to her personal Wells Fargo bank account attached to her business, Cache Kloset LLC, to redirect funds to herself, according to the indictment
“Huggins ultimately spent the fraudulently obtained funds to sustain her luxurious lifestyle, which included taking vacations, buying luxury apparel and jewelry, and having a celebrity chef cater her private Christmas party …” the indictment says, without naming the chef. “As a result of her scheme to defraud, Huggins received over $378,000 in fraudulently obtained HUD and THA funds ….”
Court records show Huggins redirected funds to her business’ bank account between July 2023 and December 2024. Investigators found she conducted transfers anywhere from once to seven times a month, with amounts ranging from roughly $1,500 to $29,000. One debit card transaction showed a $13,738.50 purchase from Gucci, for instance
Huggins, who was suspended from her THA role in January 2025, made her initial appearance and was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee. Her trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 8, before Chief U.S. District Judge Allen C. Winsor. Huggins is represented by the Federal Public Defender’s Office
If convicted, Huggins faces up to 30 years in prison on each bank fraud count, a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence on the aggravated identity theft charge, up to 10 years on each money laundering count and up to three years on each count of filing a false tax return, the release said. She also could be ordered to pay restitution and forfeit assets
The case is the second federal investigation into affordable housing matters in Tallahassee
In May, HUD launched an audit after concerns were raised over the city’s handling of a $4.4 million HUD grant that was for the replacement of lead paint contaminated doors for low-income families
Portions of this story were previously published. Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa
