Atlanta, Georgia – A former top official at the Atlanta Housing Authority will spend time in prison after federal prosecutors said she turned programs meant for low-income families and pandemic-hit businesses into a source of personal gain.
According to the Department of Justice, Tracy Denise Jones, 61, of Atlanta, was sentenced on May 20, 2026, to nine months in prison, followed by nine months of home detention and 15 months of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $65,598.80 in restitution and a $63,546 fine. Jones pleaded guilty on February 2, 2026, to conspiracy to commit theft of government funds, wire fraud, and credit application fraud.
For years, Jones held a powerful role inside the Atlanta Housing Authority. From April 2017 until her guilty plea, she served as Senior Vice President over the Housing Choice Voucher Program, which oversees Section 8 rental assistance. The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, helps low-income families and individuals pay rent. Because those funds are limited, applicants often face long waiting lists…