Gulfport, Miss. - Brandy Ann Jarrell, 38, of Biloxi, Mississippi, was sentenced by U. S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to six months in federal prison and six months home confinement with electronic monitoring followed by three years of supervised release for oil spill fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. Jarrell was also ordered to pay $28,800 in restitution and perform eighty hours of community service.
Jarrell knowingly devised and carried out a scheme to defraud the Gulf Coast Claims Facility which was established by BP Exploration and Production to administer, process, and settle certain claims of individuals and businesses that had been impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Jarrell submitted a fraudulent claim for damages by alleging that she lost earnings, profits and work hours as an oyster and shrimp fisherman working in Gulf Coast harbors as a result of the oil spill. Jarrell received a check in the amount of $28,800.00 as the result of her false claim.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.
This case was brought as part of this District’s partnership with the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), a nationwide initiative to protect available funds and assistance for those victims of both natural and man-made disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and the recent Gulf oil spill. If you have knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, you can contact the NCDF by either calling the hotline at (866) 720-5721, faxing (225) 334-4707, emailing at disaster@leo.gov or in writing to National Center for Disaster Fraud, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.
If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
disaster@leo.gov
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
