Diné woman indicted in housing theft case later signed $50M ZenniHome work order

DÁ’DEESTŁ’IN HÓTSAA

Two sisters are accused of using money from a federally funded housing organization serving Santa Ana Pueblo to pay people for work they allegedly did not perform, then collecting much of the money back in cash, according to a federal indictment.

Sharilene Jeff, 51, and Sandra Jeff, 58, were charged Thursday in federal court with conspiracy and theft involving Tamaya Housing Inc., the tribally designated housing entity for Santa Ana Pueblo.

Tamaya Housing receives funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Indian Housing Block Grant Program to provide affordable housing, according to federal prosecutors.

At the time of the alleged offenses, Sharilene Jeff was the interim executive director of Tamaya Housing and had access to its financial accounts and federal grant funds. Sandra Jeff was the organization’s office manager.

From November 2021 through May 2022, prosecutors allege the sisters conspired to have Tamaya Housing pay individuals for work that was not performed in exchange for the individuals returning most of the money in cash.

In April 2022, Sharilene Jeff allegedly caused about $50,000 to be transferred from a Tamaya Housing bank account to a person who had performed no work for the organization. Prosecutors allege Sandra Jeff later traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada, and collected about $40,000 in cash from that person.

The following month, Sharilene Jeff allegedly caused about $63,500 to be transferred to another person and instructed that person to withdraw $40,500 in cash while keeping $23,000.

According to the indictment, Sharilene Jeff later collected cash from that person while attending a work conference in Seattle. Sandra Jeff subsequently collected additional cash from the person in Arizona.

Prosecutors also allege the sisters instructed recipients to withdraw cash in small amounts to avoid detection and to falsely claim contracts existed with Tamaya Housing if questioned about the payments.

Sharilene Jeff faces the conspiracy charge and five additional theft counts involving Tamaya Housing. Sandra Jeff faces the conspiracy charge and two additional theft counts. Each theft count involves property valued at $5,000 or more.

Jeff later held DCD authority

In December 2024, Jeff was delegated authority to serve as executive director of the Navajo Nation’s Division of Community Development and signed a $49.99 million ZenniHome work order the following day.

On Dec. 30, 2024, Patrick Sandoval, then chief of staff for the Office of the President and Vice President, signed a memorandum delegating Jeff authority to serve as executive director of DCD. Jeff’s signature on the memorandum’s acknowledgment line identifies her as senior programs and projects specialist.

On Dec. 31, Jeff signed the Work Order No. 4 cost proposal form, which set a total cost of $49,999,994.78 for construction and delivery of 160 modular units under contract CO16637 with Indigenous Design Studio + Architecture, according to the work order and memorandum reviewed by the Navajo Times.

The controller’s office confirmed that Jeff signed Work Order No. 4.

Alfreida Nez, the senior programs and project specialist for the Community Housing and Infrastructure Department, signed the same cost proposal form under funds availability. Tamarah Begay, the president and CEO of Indigenous Design Studio + Architecture, signed as contractor.

The work order involved a larger Navajo Nation housing contract with IDS+A to build modular homes. The Nation later reduced the order from 160 homes to 80. The president’s office has stated the contract was reviewed and approved by the appropriate departments and offices.

Separately, DCD reviewed invoices connected to the work order in 2025. A forensic report filed in litigation involving IDS+A and ZenniHome shows that DCD identified about $350,000 in costs it considered unallowed or unsupported.

The ZenniHome housing project is separate from the federal criminal case against the Jeff sisters. The federal indictment does not allege a connection between the Tamaya Housing allegations and the Navajo Nation housing contract.

Sandra Jeff ran for Navajo Nation president

Sandra and Sharilene are Tsénahabiłnii and born for Táchii’nii. Their maternal grandfather is Tódích’íi’nii and their paternal grandfather is Tł’ááshchí’í. They are the daughters of Ann C. Jeff and the late Sam Jeff. Sandra is from T’iists’óózí, New Mexico.

She previously served in the New Mexico House of Representatives and ran for Navajo Nation president in 2022. She was one of 15 candidates who filed for the office that year.

Sharilene Jeff is currently detained pending trial, while Sandra Jeff has been released under federal supervision. A trial date has not been scheduled.

If convicted, each faces up to 10 years in prison.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and the Santa Ana Pueblo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jena Ritchey and Sean Sullivan are prosecuting the case.

An indictment contains allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.

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