"Watch it, sucker!"
Posted on 07/28/2006 11:28:06 AM PDT by ncountylee
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - A south Alabama woman was indicted Thursday on federal charges of defrauding FEMA out of $277,377 by making false claims for Hurricane Katrina damages, the U.S. attorney said.
Lawanda T. Williams spent FEMA's money on real estate, vehicles, electronics, a mobile home and other property, U.S. Attorney Deborah J. Rhodes said in a statement.
The 32-year-old Jackson woman, also known as Lawanda Johnson, was arrested on July 18 on charges of wire and mail fraud.
In a 66-count grand jury indictment Thursday, additional charges include making false claims to the government and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Cassady declined to release Williams on bond. A trial date hasn't been set.
Federal authorities said Williams, claiming Katrina damages in 30 separate cases, used false Social Security numbers and various names and addresses in Gulfport, Pascagoula and Biloxi, Miss., and New Orleans, as well as her rural home in Jackson, north of Mobile.
If convicted of mail fraud and wire fraud, Williams could be sentenced to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Making false claims to the government could bring five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The identity theft charge carries a mandatory two-year sentence consecutive to any other sentences.
Rhodes said investigations by the Hurricane Katrina Task Force continue to track down those who took advantage of last year's relief efforts.
So far, 11 individuals have been charged in the court's Southern District of Alabama.•
Wonder if the $277,377 is the largest suspected Katrina fraud?
I would say the largest Katrina fraud was the MSM.
She should also have to pay all of the costs of the investigation and prosecution.
Call the U.N..
Whoa! Hand the money out like it's nothing and then go back and nail those who got greedy. Interesting system.
Lawanda
And some of them end up in Congress.
You nailed that!
I can't, because they probably won't be there any more. I e-mailed Karl Rove a few minutes ago asking him to rev up his Magic Weather Machine and target the U.N. building while John Bolton is safely in D.C. Everybody hold onto your hats.
Yeah, dat chile is oft da muscle!
"Watch it, sucker!"
Jesse Jackson will step in, there will be no prosecution.
Could you share your recipe for obtaining blood from turnips?
Throw her criminal you-know-what in jail and be done with it. She ain't got no assets other than what she sits on.
Who's gonna purchase a used double-wide for $280,000+?
She goes to Sideshow Bob's hairdresser.
Their second biggest mistake was trusting people who steal, like Lawanda.
Louisiana News
South Alabama woman fugitive on $24,645 FEMA fraud charges
7/14/2006, 4:07 p.m. CT
The Associated Press
JACKSON, Ala. (AP) — Authorities searched for a Jackson woman on charges of filing at least 30 phony disaster relief claims after Hurricane Katrina, collecting at least one FEMA check for about $24,645, the FBI said Friday.
snip
She claimed to have lived in Biloxi, Miss., when Katrina struck Aug. 29. Based on that claim, she received a Federal Emergency Management Agency check for about $24,645.
Williams fled her home in Jackson on July 6 as federal agents prepared to search it. An FBI statement said Williams ran into the woods, but she's known to have other residences in Clarke County.
The 30 aid applications linked to Williams had different addresses, phone numbers and Social Security numbers, which alerted authorities.
Or Carol Mosely("Well we're movin' on up...")Braun.
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