Crime & Public Safety
Former Mobile Housing Authority employee arrested on charges tied to $68,000 in purchases
A former employee of the Mobile Housing Authority was arrested in Mobile County after investigators say he made roughly $68,000 in unauthorized purchases charged to Housing Authority accounts. The Mobile County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as Ray Field Collins, 63, and said the alleged improper charges occurred during a multi-year period.
According to the Mobile County Sheriff's Office, investigators traced unauthorized monthly purchases spanning 2023 through 2025. The agency says the items allegedly charged included car parts, air-conditioning units, grills, Bluetooth headphones and earbuds, flooring and other goods that were not used in repair or maintenance of low-income housing.
Court documents show Collins faces two counts of fraudulent credit card possession, first-degree theft of property and two counts of position for personal gain. Jail records indicate Collins was booked into the Mobile Metro Jail on September 18, 2026, and released on a $40,000 bond on September 21; court paperwork listed a hearing scheduled for September 23.
The Mobile Housing Authority issued a statement that it will not comment on specifics of an ongoing criminal matter but said it intends to ensure HUD resources are used for housing and to assist law enforcement. The Sheriff's Office is treating the purchases as unauthorized and alleges the transactions were not approved by the finance department during the period when Collins reportedly had health issues.
All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.