Jerome and Catherine Foreman were each indicted in U.S. District Court, Jackson, MS, for committing theft of government funds and making false claims and statements. They allegedly applied for and obtained $150,000 in CDBG Disaster Recovery funds through MDA and $8,706 in FEMA
disaster assistance for hurricane-damaged residential property, but the property damaged was not their primary residence during the storm.
Barbara Dowl was indicted in U.S. District Court, New Orleans, LA, for committing theft of government funds and wire fraud. Dowl allegedly applied for and obtained $132,000 in CDBG Disaster Recovery funds through Louisiana's Road Home program and $46,000 in Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster assistance for hurricane-damaged residential property, but she did not own or reside in the damaged property during the storm.
Elaine Rougeau, the recipient of a Road Home disaster assistance grant, entered into a civil settlement filed in U.S. District Court, Baton Rouge, LA, and agreed to pay the Louisiana Redevelopment Authority $99,355. Rougeau filed for bankruptcy and defaulted on her mortgage after she obtained $127,355 in Road Home funds.
Copyright, 2008. The Advocate- New Orleans, LA.
Candice McMillian was charged in U.S. District Court, New Orleans, LA, with making a false statement. McMillian applied for and received $150,000 in SBA disaster assistance for her hurricane-damaged primary residence, but she allegedly submitted false invoices and used the SBA funds to rehabilitate a rental property instead. After McMillian allegedly used the SBA disaster assistance to fraudulently rehabilitate a rental property, she legitimately applied for and received $150,000 in CDBG Disaster Recovery funds through the Road Home program. Her acceptance into the Road Home program caused the Road Home administrator to remit $89,000 in CDBG funds to pay for McMillian's alleged fraudulent SBA loan.
Doris Wilkerson was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Gulfport, MS, to 7 months incarceration and 3 years supervised release, ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and pay FEMA $17,133 in restitution, and fined $25,000 for her guilty plea to making false statements and committing theft of government funds. Wilkerson applied for and received FEMA disaster assistance and $74,008 in CDBG Disaster Recovery funds through MDA for hurricane-damaged residential property, but the property damaged was not her primary residence during the storm.
Clinton Tapper, Jr., was indicted in U.S. District Court, Jackson, MS, for making false statements and claims, committing theft of government funds and wire and mail fraud, and submitting fraudulent loan and credit applications. Tapper allegedly applied for and received $14,006 in FEMA and $169,400 in SBA disaster assistance and attempted to obtain $150,000 in CDBG Disaster Recovery funds through MDA for hurricane-damaged residential property, but the property damaged was not his primary residence during the storm.
Lee Taylor was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Gulfport, MS, to 30 months incarceration and 36 months supervised release and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and repay FEMA $30,241 and Rebuild Jackson County $66,764 in restitution for his conviction of making false claims. Taylor applied for and received FEMA and Rebuild Jackson County disaster assistance and attempted to obtain $150,000 in CDBG Disaster Recovery funds through MDA for hurricane-damaged residential property, but Taylor did not own or occupy the damaged property during the storm.
Roger and Annette Williams each pled guilty in U.S. District Court, Gulfport, MS, to making false statements and committing theft of government funds and Federal program fraud. They applied for and obtained $17,814 in FEMA, $80,600 in SBA, and $13,667 in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) disaster assistance and attempted to obtain $150,000 in CDBG Disaster Recovery funds through MDA for hurricane-damaged residential property, but Roger and Annette Williams did not occupy the damaged property during the storm.
William and Isabel Bates were collectively sentenced in U.S. District Court, Gulfport, MS, to 5 months incarceration, 11 months home confinement, and 8 years supervised release; ordered to perform 120 hours of community service and pay FEMA $12,969 in restitution, jointly and severally; and fined $22,500 for their guilty pleas to making false statements and theft of government funds. They applied for and received $12,969 in FEMA disaster assistance and attempted to obtain an SBA disaster loan and $120,000 in CDBG Disaster Recovery funds through MDA for hurricane-damaged residential property, but the property damaged was not their primary residence during the storm.
Nealie and Joe Rudolph were each indicted in U.S. District Court,
Gulfport, MS, for making false claims and statements, committing wire and
mail fraud, and civil forfeiture. They allegedly applied for and received $11,858 in FEMA and $1,810 in USDA disaster assistance and allegedly attempted to obtain $71,887 in CDBG Disaster Recovery funds through MDA for hurricane-damaged residential property, but the property damaged was not their primary residence during the storm.
Beatrice and Leverne Moses were each indicted in U.S. District Court,
Jackson, MS, for making false statements, submitting false claims,
committing theft of government funds and mail fraud, and aiding
and abetting. They allegedly applied for and received $24,790 in FEMA disaster assistance and allegedly attempted to obtain $52,300 in CDBG Disaster Recovery funds through MDA for hurricane-damaged residential property, but the property damaged was not their primary residence during the storm.
Catherine Pruitt was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Gulfport, MS, to 10 months incarceration and 36 months supervised release and ordered to perform 40 hours of community service and pay FEMA $4,358 in restitution for her guilty plea to making false statements and committing mail fraud. Pruitt applied for and received $4,358 in FEMA disaster assistance and attempted to obtain $100,000 in CDBG Disaster Recovery funds and $30,000 in Elevation grant funds through MDA for hurricane- damaged residential property, but the property damaged was not her primary residence during the storm.
Copyright, 2008. The Clarion- Ledger - Jackson, MS. Reprinted with permission.
Copyright, 2008. Hattiesburg American - Hattiesburg , MS. Reprinted with permission.