6 News in Indianapolis, via YouBeenBlinded.com, reports that Ron Artest and his sister, 36-year-old Latoya Holmes-Ivey, “are at the center of a welfare fraud investigation.”
Police and housing authorities raided the home and her three children rent at 336 E. Burgess Ave. Wednesday morning.
Artest’s sister reportedly received up to $34,000 in “taxpayer-supported rent assistance” because she claimed no income. But investigators indicated she was also allegedly receiving money from Artest for all of her bills.
Most importantly, Artest was allegedly behind the scheme, directing his sister to apply for federal assistance.
The tip came from a former CPA at Tennessee-based TriStar Sports and Entertainment, the company that represents Artest, who now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers.
According to court documents, the ex-employee sent an e-mail to the Housing and Urban Development Office in Indianapolis claiming that TriStar, under the direction of Artest, was using one of his bank accounts to pay all of Holmes-Ivey’s.
Indianapolis Housing Agency Executive Director Bud Meyers, who helped direct the raid of Artest’s sister’s home said, “The source of the income doesn’t matter. What matters is that she did not report the money.”
Holmes-Ivey neighbor reax:
“I never understood why she was on assistance because of that, when she told me he was her brother. The people who do need the assistance don’t get it, when the people who don’t need it get a lot of time.”
“If you have a brother like that anyway, why do you to commit fraud or whatever?”
If true, it’s unbelievable Artest would direct his sister to do something like this. That is, unless he was running short of money, which would be impossible to believe at this juncture.
Then again, when Artest was with the Bulls and had just signed a contract worth $5M, he applied for a job with Circuit City in an attempt to get the employee discount, so nothing should surprise us.
8:24 am on November 26th, 2009
another athelete who possibly squandered away all their money?? it cant be true lol
8:09 pm on November 26th, 2009
It’s not because he’s rich that means she’s rich
I wouldn’t pay my siblings bills
8:10 pm on November 26th, 2009
Don’t see anywhere in the legitimate reports that says Artest was behind the Fraud. In fact the head of the development says he might have been helping his family. Anything for a web hit I guess.
1:03 am on November 27th, 2009
Collects welfare? How much do you think she spends a month on those nails? SCUMBAG
6:13 pm on November 27th, 2009
what a thug
11:58 pm on November 27th, 2009
she is atrocious. fug
12:55 am on November 28th, 2009
OMG did I go back to 1980 with Reagan decrying welfare fraud with the ghettoized black folk ’stealing Cadillacs’. Welfare Queens Whoopi Goldberg and JK Rowling stole cadillacs before they made their dough and fame apparently. Sure you want to be your sibling’s keeper but Ron is not obligated to her though he probably should help her in financial advice. Sorry but I know people on welfare and stories like this is what has destroyed whatever efficiencies were left of a system that has deluged into just localities through demonization and quite frankly racism, even though the people on welfare I know are white.
1:34 pm on November 29th, 2009
where in the hell is she living on welfare that they give you 34000 bucks worth??????????????
im sure a little appt in the ghetto doesnt cost that much, wonder how many shits she has taken
12:56 pm on December 1st, 2009
CMG-
That was one of the most incoherent rants I have ever read. Whatever your point may have been was lost in your ramblings.
10:03 pm on May 26th, 2010
HOLY CRAP! I took care of her as a home care nurse. By looking at their home, you would NEVER know he took care of her. the couches we dirty, the house was bare, this is crazy… but she ALWAYS had her hair and naild LAID out! that wild!