Judge James Reardon sentenced Russell Callahan to two years in the Worcester County Jail. Linda Callahan received four years of probation. Reardon said both deserved incarceration, but cited her treatment for a serious health condition in deciding against jail time.

The judge described the scheme as carefully planned and carried out over an extended period. Linda Callahan’s probation requires her to undergo a mental health evaluation and follow any recommended treatment.

The Callahans used false information to secure rentals, then stopped paying rent, according to accounts of the cases. Property owners had to pursue evictions in housing court before the couple moved on to other properties. The criminal charges stemmed from two recent eviction cases.

A 2024 investigation into the couple’s rental history found they had been evicted more than 20 times in Massachusetts and Florida, with unpaid rent judgments exceeding $100,000. The people affected included a veteran who was deployed overseas and a Shrewsbury couple who said fake rental documents helped the Callahans obtain their home.

The couple were arrested last summer after a grand jury indictment. Their guilty pleas bring criminal consequences in a case that had previously played out largely through housing court proceedings.

A hearing on restitution for victims is expected after Russell Callahan is released from jail. The amount the couple may be ordered to pay has not yet been determined.