A Virginia landlord has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for racially harassing Black tenants and stealing their identities to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief funds. David L. Merryman, 59, owned over 60 rental properties in Newport News and Hampton, predominantly Black and low-income areas. His properties were often in disrepair, with issues like leaks, rodent infestations, and structural damage. Despite this, Merryman exploited his tenants’ limited housing options, charging excessive upfront fees and evicting them quickly to restart the fraud cycle, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).