Apple Valley Woman Accused of Illegally Receiving $20K in CDA Housing Assistance

An Apple Valley woman has been charged with theft after authorities say she improperly received housing assistance benefits from the Dakota County Community Development Agency.

Ida Marie Tims, 48, who lives in the 15800 block of Fleet Trail, faces four felony counts of theft by false representation, each of which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint against her, Tims received housing benefits from the county CDA between October 2008 and September 2010 totaling $19,224.

Tims’ eligibility for the benefits was determined by her reporting of financial and household composition information, the complaint says.

In October 2007, she sought approval from the CDA to add another member to her household, but the CDA withheld approval because the man had been convicted of an offense that disqualified the household from benefits.

On annual recertification applications for housing assistance signed in September 2008 and October 2009, Tims did not list the man as a member of the household.

However, Tims allegedly told a Dakota County sheriff’s detective last September that the man had been living in her home since August 2007 and acknowledged that the CDA had denied approval of him being added to the household.