What happened to nearly $1 million of pandemic assistance in Thurston County?

Kim Malcolm

John O'Brien

September 30, 2025 / 4:49 pm

In 2022, the Thurston County Auditor's Office requested an investigation into a property management company based in Lacey. The concern was the illegal collection of nearly $1 million in federal Covid-19 pandemic funds for rental assistance.

The fraud put a stop to emergency aid in the county for months, but county leaders never pressed charges against the alleged perpetrator or demanded the money back.

Cascade PBS reporter Brandon Block wrote about the investigation. He told KUOW’s Kim Malcolm what happened.

This interview has been edited for clarity.

Kim Malcolm: Your article has someone named Lance Benson at the center of it. Tell us more about w

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