NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — A Hampton landlord was sentenced Wednesday to 17 years in prison for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and race-based interference with housing and employment.
According to court documents, David L. Merryman, 59, owned 39 rental properties in Newport News and 23 in Hampton. Many of Merryman’s rental properties were in poor condition and located in low-income neighborhoods to target underprivileged African Americans with limited credit and housing options.
From 2019 through at least Jan. 2024, Merryman engaged in obtaining rent relief benefits to which he was not entitled, as well as fraudulently obtaining large initial payments in the form of security deposits, prepaid rent and other fees for rental homes that were in poor repair, according to court documents…