Fake Leases Drain $187K in NC Rent Aid
Two defendants pleaded guilty after 23 fraudulent HOPE applications targeted Lenoir County rental assistance funds meant for pandemic-era tenants.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Apartments
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Two people pleaded guilty in federal court to a conspiracy that defrauded North Carolina's HOPE rental assistance program. Federal prosecutors say Daquan Copeland, Esless White and others submitted fake leases for Lenoir County properties to obtain pandemic-era rent aid.
Why it matters
The HOPE program was built to help households pay rent and avoid eviction during the COVID-19 pandemic, so fraud of this kind takes money meant for tenants and landlords who played by the rules. The case shows how fabricated lease paperwork was used to pass applications through.
Daquan Copeland and Esless White pleaded guilty in federal court. The group submitted 23 fraudulent applications and stole more than $187,000 in pandemic rental assistance funds in Lenoir County.
The players
Daquan Copeland
A defendant who pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to defraud North Carolina's HOPE rental assistance program and is awaiting sentencing.
Esless White
A defendant who pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to defraud North Carolina's HOPE rental assistance program and is awaiting sentencing.
The details
The defendants submitted fake rental leases for several Lenoir County properties to support fraudulent applications to the HOPE program. The group filed 23 applications between November 2020 and December 2021 and used the money for personal expenses. Copeland and White entered guilty pleas on November 2, 2026, and are awaiting sentencing.
Timeline
November 2020 to December 2021: the group submitted 23 fraudulent HOPE applications.
November 2, 2026: Copeland and White pleaded guilty in federal court.
The Home Front
Pandemic-era rental aid programs like North Carolina's HOPE were designed to keep tenants housed during the COVID-19 crisis. Cases like this one show the program's paperwork verification being tested by fabricated lease documents years after applications were filed.
If you are a North Carolina renter or landlord who received or dealt with HOPE rental assistance, keep your lease and payment records on file in case of any future verification request. Confirm that any rental aid you receive is paid through the official program channel and not through a third party.
The takeaway
Rental assistance fraud is typically caught through lease and application verification, so keeping accurate documentation protects legitimate tenants and landlords. Report any suspected HOPE program scam to the program administrators.
Further reading
For more on rental housing across the state, see Apartments in North Carolina coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Public Radio East.
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