Heather Ruybal was sentenced to 20 years in prison for fraud on August 31, 2026, after being evicted nearly three dozen times and causing significant property damage under various aliases in Texas and Colorado. Ruybal was found guilty of felony fraud on July 27, 2026, for using a false name and writing a bad check to lease a house in 2023, according to Denver7.
Dallas County Assistant District Attorney Amber Moore stated that Ruybal exploited the eviction process, moving into homes without the intention of paying rent. Ruybal was convicted of renting a home in Rowlett, Texas, under the alias Heather Schwab, using her father's identity, and subsequently failing to pay rent. She was ordered to pay $40,000 in restitution to the victim, Jessica Davis, who rented her the property through Zillow.
Davis reported that the home was left in poor condition, with significant damage, including clogged toilets and a strong odor. She lost her home due to the financial impact of Ruybal's actions. Ruybal's criminal history includes nearly three dozen evictions over more than two decades, and her sentence was enhanced due to a prior conviction in 2018 for similar offenses in Colorado.
In addition to her current sentence, Ruybal faces felony charges in Denver for allegedly stealing over $500,000 from a former employer while working as a payroll manager and bookkeeper. She is accused of funneling payments to fictitious employees and a shell company linked to her own bank accounts. Ruybal made her initial court appearance for this fraud case on September 1, 2026.