Gulfport, Miss. - Brian K. Lee, 40, of Gulfport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to thirty-four months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for mail fraud in connection with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today. Lee was also ordered to pay a $2,500.00 fine and restitution in the amount of $47,083.76.
Lee knowingly devised a scheme to defraud the Gulf Coast Claims Facility established by BP Exploration and Production, Inc., to administer, process, and settle certain claims of individuals and businesses that had been impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Lee made false representations in a claim form, and in various documents submitted in support of his claim, that he lost earnings and profits from his employment as a customer service representative at Gulf South Seafood as a result of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The investigation revealed no such company ever existed. Lee received $47,083.76 as a result of his fraudulent claim.
This case was investigated by agents of the United States Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones. It 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
