STROUDSBURG - The Detective Division of the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office received information from the Monroe County Housing Authority that they had a recipient on Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program committing fraud.

An MCDA detective began an investigation on Dawn Babbitt of East Stroudsburg using information provided by the Housing Authority. The detective discovered that Babbitt and her husband, Joseph Babbitt had been residing at the residence in East Stroudsburg since Dawn Babbitt was accepted into the Section 8 HCVP. Joseph Babbitt was not listed as a household member by Dawn as he was gainfully employed and she would not have received these benefits to pay her rent.

A copy of the Babbitt’s 2011 tax return was obtained by Detective Coddington and the total income for Joseph and Dawn Babbitt who filled with the address of 2046 Milford Road (the house being paid for by the HCVP) was $96,438.00. The detective also uncovered other information linking Joseph Babbitt to this same residence as far back as 2009.

Dawn Babbitt was arrested earlier this week and charged with theft by deception/false impressions, theft by deception (both felonies) and unsworn falsifications to authorities (misdemeanor charge).  She is free on $25,000 unsecured bail.