Wonder if the $277,377 is the largest suspected Katrina fraud?
She should also have to pay all of the costs of the investigation and prosecution.
Whoa! Hand the money out like it's nothing and then go back and nail those who got greedy. Interesting system.
Lawanda
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.
Williams, 32, of Jackson, Ala., was charged in a 66-count federal indictment with making false claims to the government, mail fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Williams is charged with making a number of false and fraudulent applications for disaster assistance from FEMA following Hurricane Katrina. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
The indictment alleges that from Sept. 8, 2005 through May 11, 2006, Williams applied by telephone for disaster benefits from FEMA following Hurricane Katrina. Using false Social Security numbers and variations of her name and addresses in Gulfport, Pascagoula and Biloxi, Miss., as well as addresses in Jackson, Ala. and New Orleans, Williams claimed that her primary residence had been damaged. The indictment further alleges that at the time of Hurricane Katrina, Williams lived in Jackson, and not at any of the addresses she claimed as her damaged primary residence.
Williams allegedly received $277,377 from FEMA as a result of the fraudulent claims, which she used to purchase real estate, a mobile home, automobiles, electronics and other personal property. If convicted, the proceeds of the alleged fraud would be subject to forfeiture to the United States.
Williams was arrested on July 18, 2006 on a federal complaint charging her with wire and mail fraud in connection with one of the applications. U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Cassady ordered that she be detained in custody pending trial. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Costello is prosecuting the case.
Mail fraud and wire fraud each carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Making false claims to the government is punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Conviction of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two year sentence consecutive to any other sentence imposed.
Williams is described as a black female, age 32, 5’10 in height, 126 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. Her last known address is 50 Jackie and Linda Road, Jackson, Alabama. She has also resided at other locations in Clarke County, Alabama.
Wonder if that kanye west person would like to pay for her defense?
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.
With all of that money laying around and the massive opportunities for fraud, I always ask the same question of this and similar situations, "why so little?" This always looked like a million dollar plus cash cow there for most crooks to rob blind.
I've got a name for people like her but, I promised my sweet Grandmother I wouldn't use it again. So I'll just think it!
We owe it to her... reparations and all that, you know.