Racist Virginia landlord sentenced to 17 years in prison for identity theft

Source: Grace Cary/Getty

As 2024 comes to an end, BOSSIP wanted to remind you that hatred of black skin does not take a vacation.

According to the United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginiaa 59-year-old white homeowner named David L. Merryman was sentenced to 17 years in prison after being convicted of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and racial interference with housing and employment.

“David Merryman deliberately targeted families of color with limited means and housing options. said Jessica D. Aber, United States Attorney for the Easter District of Virginia. “Landlords have a responsibility under the law to uphold the right to housing and protect the human dignity of the people to whom they rent. Mr. Merryman failed to take this responsibility and is paying a heavy price for his racial discrimination and fraud.

Merryman used the COVID-19 pandemic to file fraudulent applications for rent relief on behalf of his tenants by forging their signatures. As a result, he received “significant amounts of rent relief” without informing the tenants. It was found that on numerous occasions, Merryman mocked black tenants with comments about slavery, used racial slurs, used force, harassment and made threats of violence to against them.

For example, a tenant, identified as LG, requested needed repairs to the home she was renting, to which Merryman repeatedly responded with racist and derogatory remarks. In April 2019, Merryman threatened to turn LG and its children into “breeding ground.” LG obtained a protection order against Merryman, who then responded by, among other things, parking his vehicle just outside the order's prohibited radius and intimidating LG and his family.

According to Law and crimethere was an incident in 2023 in which Merryman and a group of men entered a tenant's yard and threatened them with a brick. Believing one of the tenant's men was armed, Merryman fled the property waving the brick while shouting “you black bastards”, and shouted “f-ing n-ers, f-ing n-ers”.

Let's hope that, God willing, David Merryman gets months and years of painful hospitality in prison.