A Roanoke Rapids man charged in a COVID-related rental fraud has pleaded guilty to one of the eight federal counts lodged against him while an Enfield Man is set to have his arraignment in the case in March.

Court documents show that Timothy Kelvin Harvey pleaded guilty last week to count 1 of his indictment and is expected to be sentenced during the April 8 term of court in Raleigh before District Judge James C. Dever II.

Harvey and Arkino Williams of Enfield were two of six men who were charged in a scheme to defraud the NC Hope Program of rental assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harvey is charged with eight counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

Williams is charged with four counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

The case involves 44 fraudulent applications resulting  in the disbursement of more than $279,000 in proceeds from the program which was designed to assist renters facing hardships during the pandemic.

The indictment against the six men charges that between June of 2021 and February of 2022 they claimed to be landlords of properties they didn’t own in a conspiracy to apply for and receive rental assistance from the program.

Harvey, according to the indictment, with Joe Jefferson of Nashville, received the following:

A check for $6,705 for a residence in the 700 block of Highway 903 in Roanoke Rapids, a check for $6,930 for a residence in Nashville, a check for $6,930, a check for $10,000, a check for $10,000, a check for $3,000, a check $3,000 and a $4,620 check — all for residences in Rocky Mount.

Williams received a check for $8,940 for rental assistance at a residence at 6626 Bowers Road, a check for $8,940 for a residence at 3166 Bowers Road, a check for $2,250 for the 3166 Bowers Road address — all in the Littleton area — and a check for $2,250 for a residence at 21727 Highway 561 in the Enfield area.