OKC Standard

BREANNA PARADA and MONICA MONTES of Woodward, Oklahoma, have agreed to resolve civil claims related to allegations that Parada submitted a false claim for COVID-funded Emergency Rental Assistance to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Housing Authority. This resolution was announced by United States Attorney Robert J. Troester.

A Consent Judgment was entered by the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma in the case United States v. Parada, Case No. CIV-25-00136-JD. Parada admitted to submitting an application for COVID-funded Emergency Rental Assistance while falsely claiming to rent a home she owned. She supported her application with a fraudulent lease agreement, signed by both her and Montes, as well as fraudulent eviction and delinquent utility payment notices. These actions resulted in Parada receiving $5,564.84 and Montes receiving $200.00 in funds they were not entitled to.

To resolve these claims, Parada agreed to a Consent Judgment for $19,025.00, while Montes settled her claims by paying $1,000.00 to the United States. The Settlement Agreement did not require Montes to admit liability, nor did the United States concede on the legitimacy of the claims.

The resolution of the case through the Consent Judgment and Settlement Agreement allowed the involved parties to avoid the delays and costs of litigation.

Investigative support was provided by multiple agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General, and Office of Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gallegos prosecuted the case.