The “Queen of Bounce” may be bouncing his way to the big house. Bounce music sensation and Fuse reality star Big Freedia (real name: Freddie Ross, Jr.) was charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with felony theft of government funds.
Big Freedia allegedly collected more than $1,000 in Section 8 vouchers (valued at $34,000) even as his income and profile exploded from 2010-2014. Freedia says he’s already started paying restitution and is cooperating with the investigation.
In a statement, he blames financial illiteracy (and not Stunt Queen antics) on the situation:
“This is an incredibly unfortunate situation. I was on subsidized housing for many years before my financial situation changed. I quickly found myself in a new economic structure and, frankly, knew little about how to handle my money. It wasn’t until recently that it became very clear I had received assistance to which I wasn’t entitled. It was an oversight – but one that I take full responsibility for.”
Apparently you can be featured in a Beyonce video (“Formation”) yet remain unaware that you just might be making too much money to qualify for housing assistance. Who knew?
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He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Watch the report via 4WWL below:
John Michael Cox Jr
Section 8 means you’re crazy so he lied about his income to get a voucher to prove he’s nuts?
Adam Wayne Hrincevich
With all the crime in the city and they are focusing on this petty bullshit?!?!
BudsYourUncle
*HER
Jack Walter
More like Big Fraudia.
Sand Nierenberg
Section 8 does not mean your crazy it means your poor know your facts before you say something ignorant
James Szarkowicz
If he/she is working to make good on the problem, why the ruckus? “Rags to riches”, while unusual, is not unheard of. Although I don’t really like that type of music, I wish him/her well.
Alistair Wiseman
Liberalism at its finest.
Michael Golden
Wishing him the best.
John Tessitore
Is he actually trans or no? Im honestly confused because i dont pay much attention to him. If he is trans, sorry for using the wrong pronouns.
Matthew Thompson
This is such BS. You would have to be really slow not to realize you were stealing from the goverment
Ummmm Yeah
He knew. You have to report your income. So he had to lie to get section 8 money. And $34,000 isn’t exactly a petty crime.
Bob LaBlah
As long as he keeps paying restitution he won’t see a day in jail. Sorry, haters, but the fact his very appearance is an indication he isn’t the brightest bulb in the pack will work in his favor. As long as he doesn’t get cute in the courtroom I see nothing to worry about.
Freedia, now you know to keep your mouth shut when you are doing things that aren’t right. Check the people you fired and I bet you will find who told on you.
SonOfKings
Not that I condone dishonesty, but it is understandable that a person who has been poor and struggling for years might want to hold on to that subsidized housing in case the showbiz money stops as suddenly as it started. Section 8 takes years to get, and longer to get back if you go from rags to riches back to rags again. I think Big Fredia was a little concerned about just how long this newfound fame (and related money) was going to last, so she tried to play it slick. But so long as she’s paying restitution, let’s let the girl live her life and be a cautionary example for others. Whoever told on Big Fredia a Big hater, and not someone that anyone should trust.
scotty
@John Michael Cox Jr:
someone has been watching too much M*A*S*H
section 8 is crazy in the army (or it used to be)
in the real world, section 8 means not enuf money to afford regular housing.
why you trippin so hard tho?
Ageline Santos Espanto
He is reminding me Jay-Z
robho3
Poor thing
Augusto Kortright
What about people who live in section housing and have people there that aren’t on the lease. That’s fraud also.
Sluggo2007
They really are all the same, aren’t they?
DarkZephyr
@Alistair Wiseman: “Liberalism at its finest.”
So getting charged with a crime for illegally taking assistance from the Government is Liberalism? Good to know! 🙂
Kangol
@DarkZephyr: You know Miss Alistair is trying to say welfare is liberal. Yet she’d also be the first in line to support pouring Treasury dollars into the pockets of Wall Streeters, billionaires, etc., so long as she got some coins.
Big Freedia is actively paying restitution, so if anything she should get a suspended sentence or probation if even that. Her music is amazing.
youarekiddingme
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