Columbus, Ohio – A 50-year-old woman from Columbus has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to committing bankruptcy fraud after carrying out a multi-year scheme that involved using stolen and fake identities to rent homes without paying rent.
Repeated Pattern of Fraud to Avoid Eviction
Latasha Collins-Ford admitted that between 2019 and 2023, she used at least three different identities to rent separate residences. According to court documents, after moving into a property, Collins-Ford would fail to pay rent and then file for bankruptcy under the assumed identity. This tactic delayed the eviction process as bankruptcy proceedings typically pause any eviction efforts.
Once the bankruptcy petitions were dismissed or discharged, she would abandon the residence and move on to another rental property using a different identity. She repeated this fraudulent pattern multiple times, using the legal system to buy time and avoid rental obligations.
Her actions not only misled landlords but also misused federal bankruptcy protections, which are designed to help individuals facing genuine financial hardship—not to enable fraudulent schemes.
Facing Federal Penalties
By pleading guilty to bankruptcy fraud, Collins-Ford now faces up to five years in federal prison. The charge reflects the seriousness of manipulating the court system and identity information for personal gain.
Federal officials have not yet announced a sentencing date, but the case highlights the importance of monitoring bankruptcy filings and verifying identity documents in rental transactions.
