Non-profit Director Arraigned for Rental Assistance Fraud
Summary
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced the arraignment of Pipheak Sun, former Director of Housing and Consumer Education for Lowell non-profit Community Teamwork, Inc. Sun is accused of misappropriating over $280,000 in rental assistance funds intended for families facing housing crises. A scheduling conference is set for March 10.
What changed
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced the arraignment of Pipheak "Tom" Sun, former Director of Housing and Consumer Education for the Lowell non-profit Community Teamwork, Inc. (CTI). Sun faces charges including larceny and identity fraud for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to misappropriate over $280,000 in rental assistance funds earmarked for families experiencing housing crises. The alleged scheme involved creating false applications and redirecting funds to his own accounts and those of friends and family, with investigators believing he received kickbacks.
This enforcement action highlights the risks associated with the mismanagement of public funds and the potential for fraud within non-profit organizations administering critical assistance programs. Regulated entities, particularly non-profits handling government grants or public funds, should review their internal controls and oversight mechanisms to prevent similar misappropriations. While the charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent, the case underscores the importance of robust compliance and auditing procedures to safeguard public resources and ensure they reach intended beneficiaries. A scheduling conference is set for March 10 in Middlesex Superior Court.
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Press Release
Press Release Lowell Non-Profit Director Arraigned For Alleged Large-Scale Rental Assistance Fraud Scheme
Defendant Allegedly Misappropriated Over $280,000 in Rental Funds Earmarked for Families Experiencing Housing Crises
For immediate release: 2/18/2026
- Office of the Attorney General
- Office of the Inspector General
Media Contact
Sydney Weiser, Press Secretary
Phone
Call Sydney Weiser, Press Secretary at (617) 727-2543
Online
Email Sydney Weiser, Press Secretary at sydney.weiser@mass.gov
LOWELL — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today announced that Pipheak “Tom” Sun, 51, of Pepperell, was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court for allegedly abusing his position as the former Director of Housing and Consumer Education of the Lowell non-profit agency Community Teamwork, Inc (CTI) to orchestrate a large-scale rental assistance fraud scheme. Following a joint investigation from the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and Office the Inspector General (OIG), Sun is alleged to have misappropriated over $280,000 in rental assistance funds that were earmarked for individuals and families experiencing housing crises.
Sun pled not guilty to one count of Larceny over $1,200, six counts of Larceny over $1,200 by Scheme, one count of Attempt to Commit Larceny over $1,200, one count of Solicitation to Commit Larceny over $1,200, and five counts of Identity Fraud. A scheduling conference has been set in Middlesex Superior Court on March 10.
“As the cost of living continues to rise and Massachusetts residents grapple with our housing crisis, it is critical that resources designated to help families pay their rent end up in the right hands,” said AG Campbell. “I am grateful for Inspector General Shapiro’s partnership on this case. I will continue to prosecute anyone who abuses their positions to exploit our vulnerable residents to line their own pockets.”
"The indictments allege a deliberate scheme to defraud a program designed to help people keep a roof over their heads," said Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro. "The OIG will continue to work with the Attorney General's Office to safeguard public resources and hold those who enrich themselves at the expense of these resources to account."
CTI is a non-profit agency in Lowell that administers rental assistance programs, including by providing rental assistance payments on behalf of qualifying tenants directly to their landlords. From 2021 through 2023, Sun allegedly used his position as Director of Housing and Consumer Education to create false rental assistance applications that claimed that various tenants lived at his friends’ and families’ properties. Over this time period, Sun fraudulently redirected approximately $23,000 of CTI’s funds into his and his wife’s own bank accounts and facilitated $259,000 in rental assistance payments to five additional family members and friends that Sun fraudulently purported to be landlords of qualifying tenants. Investigators believe Sun received kickbacks of approximately 60% of these payments, made mainly in cash.
As part of his scheme, Sun allegedly submitted five emergency rental assistance applications using the personal identifying information of at least four different individuals without their authorization.
All of these charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This matter is being handled by Assistant Attorneys General Christina Lindberg and Jesse Coulon of the AGO's White Collar and Public Integrity Division, with assistance from Senior Financial Investigator Jonathan Pitts and Lead Investigator Emily Smith from OIG’s Audit, Oversight, and Investigations Division.
Media Contact
Sydney Weiser, Press Secretary
+
Phone
Call Sydney Weiser, Press Secretary at (617) 727-2543
Online
Email Sydney Weiser, Press Secretary at sydney.weiser@mass.gov
Carrie Kimball, Communications Officer
+
Phone
Call Carrie Kimball, Communications Officer at 617-722-8894
Online
Email Carrie Kimball, Communications Officer at carrie.c.kimball@mass.gov
Office of the Attorney General
The Attorney General is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Office of the Inspector General
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is an independent, non-partisan oversight agency mandated to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse of public resources at the state and municipal level across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We serve the residents of Massachusetts, state and local governments, and those who work with the government.
Media Contact
Sydney Weiser, Press Secretary
Phone
Call Sydney Weiser, Press Secretary at (617) 727-2543
Online
Email Sydney Weiser, Press Secretary at sydney.weiser@mass.gov
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