U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that JENNIFER WILLIAMS, 33, of Harvey, was sentenced after previously pleading guilty to two-count Indictment charging her with one count of disaster fraud and five counts of theft from the United States.
U.S. District Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown sentenced WILLIAMS to one day of incarceration. In addition to incarceration, WILLIAMS was sentenced to 30 days of home detention as part of her five years of supervised release, a $600 special assessment, and restitution in the amount of $17,040 to be repaid to FEMA.
According to the court records, on or about Oct. 15, 2012, following Hurricane Isaac, WILLIAMS filed an application with the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). WILLIAMS claimed that she needed rental assistance due to damage in her home and made false statements to FEMA with regard to where she was temporarily living. After receiving a total of $17,040 in rental assistance, Department of Homeland Security investigators determined that WILLIAMS in fact never rented another property after Hurricane Isaac and that her application and supporting documentation was false.
U.S. Attorney praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Fraud Unit was in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
