Grand Jury Indicts Woman on Charges related to Colonial Village Apartment Fraud

Posted on 2/24/2026

Defendant: Sylvia Sherman

Today, a Grand Jury returned an indictment against a woman for numerous charges related to fraud during her time as the property manager of the Colonial Village Apartment complex in east Columbus.

Sylvia Sherman, 43 is charged with: 

• Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
• Telecommunications Fraud
• Theft
• Money Laundering 

Background

While employed as a property manager at the Colonial Village Apartment complex, the City of Columbus Code Enforcement discovered that Sherman was allegedly renting apartments that were listed as vacant to approximately 1,300 Haitian immigrants who were in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in 2023. These apartments were in disrepair and lacked heat, hot water, and smoke detection.
 
Sherman allegedly placed multiple families in single units without working water or heat. The units were ordered to be vacant due to code violations.
 
The apartments were supposed to have been boarded up and repaired. Once repairs were completed, the City of Columbus Code Enforcement was supposed to conduct a check of life and safety status before the apartment units were rented. Sherman was aware of this order and allegedly rented the apartments anyway.