Landlord Gets 17 Years In Prison For Harassing Black Tenants [Video]

A racist Virginia landlord has been sentenced to almost two decades of prison time for harassing his Black tenants and stealing their identities to get extra COVID relief money.

According to Law & Crime, David L. Merryman, 59, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and race-based interference with housing and employment. Merryman owned more than 60 rental properties in Newport News and Hampton, a predominantly Black area in coastal Virginia.

According to a DOJ press release, Merry owned 39 rental properties in Newport News and 23 more in Hampton. His properties were mostly located in low-income areas, and he primarily rented to Black tenants with limited credit and housing options who couldn’t afford to live elsewhere. The homes were also in terrible condition, with holes in the ceilings and walls, leaks and rodent activity, among other issues.

From 2019 through January 2024, Merryman engaged in a scheme that included obtaining …