Federal agents seize records from authority

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Federal officials seized records Wednesday from the Lycoming County Housing Authority headquarters at 1941 Lincoln Drive in Loyalsock Township.

Beth Turner, authority executive director, said the raid by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Inspector General's Office involved records of donations made by the authority to county organizations.

"They just took some files and stuff," Turner said. "We gave them all the information they wanted."

Turner said officials presented a search warrant before conducting their search, which lasted a couple hours.

Lives of housing residents were not interrupted during the search, Turner said.

During the search, the entire building was cordoned off with yellow tape.

Turner said the raid caught her office by surprise.

When reached Wednesday afternoon, HUD officials at the Philadelphia regional office had no comment about the investigation or the material seized at the office.

Men wearing T-shirts with the words "Police - Federal Agents" on them were seen carrying boxes and computer equipment from the building. One officer was seen taking pictures inside the offices.

None of them would comment to reporters at the scene.

"Housing Authority officials completely cooperated with HUD officials," Turner said.

In a prepared statement, Turner wrote that "All information concerning donations and contributions to charitable organizations, providing youth intervention or crime reduction initiatives have been approved by the Housing Authority's Board of Directors through resolutions."

In the statement, she went on to say, "prior to passing resolutions, notification of same were provided to HUD by annual reports. The Housing Authority does not believe that any donations and/or contributions to these deserving organizations" violated HUD regulations. "The issues with regard to the investigation have absolutely no connection whatsoever with Housing Authority residents or their current or future housing availability," the statement continues.