Miami developer faces prison time for affordable housing scheme

A member of Miami’s prominent Greer family apologized to a federal judge on Wednesday for his involvement in a major affordable housing scheme in Miami-Dade, as he awaits sentencing. 

Developer Matthew Greer, the former CEO of Carlisle Development Group, admitted last year that he stole $16 million from a federal program that finances affordable housing projects as part of a bigger, $34 million housing probe, the Miami Herald reported. His attorney argued on Wednesday that because Greer pleaded guilty, paid back the stolen money, and shifted his focus to charity, he shouldn’t have to serve time in federal prison.

Sentencing guidelines for Greer’s offense range from eight to 10 years, according to the Herald. The prosecutor recommended the judge sentence him to about five years in prison.

Earlier this year, former Carlisle CEO Lloyd Boggio pleaded guilty along with Greer and six others to participating in the scheme that discredited the company Greer’s father, Bruce Greer, began.  By inflating construction costs and receiving kickbacks, the group stole more than $34 million in federal housing subsidies for affordable housing projects in Miami-Dade – 14 in all, and 13 in Brownsville, Little Haiti and Overtown between 2007 and 2012, according to previous reports. Boggio is expected to receive seven years in prison, the newspaper reported.

At the hearing on Wednesday, Greer’s attorney Roy Black spoke of affordable housing projects Carlisle built, telling the judge: “I think the public got what they paid for … They were not cheated.”

Prosecutor Michael Sherwin countered, saying that Greer was driven by greed and not charity. [Miami Herald] – Katherine Kallergis