Oklahoma City, Oklahoma -dorothy d. barney, 58, of Dallas, Texas, pled guilty today before United States District Court Judge Stephen P. Friot to disaster fraud for her claim for federal assistance after the May 2013 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, announced Mark A. Yancey, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
A devastating tornado hit Moore on May 20, 2013. Later that day, the President issued a disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which provides for assistance administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency ("FEMA"). Today Barney admitted in court that on June 5, 2013, she used the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of another person on an application for FEMA assistance related to a purportedly damaged property at 854 S.W. 10th Street in Moore. She also admitted that she did not have the other person’s permission to complete the FEMA application and that neither she nor the other person ever lived at that address. According to Barney, she forged the other person’s signature on FEMA forms and then e-mailed them to a FEMA investigator in support of the false application. A federal grand jury indicted her on December 6, 2016.
Sentencing will take place in approximately 90 days. Barney faces up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and $14,974.83 in restitution to FEMA.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Maxfield Green is prosecuting the case.
The public may report suspected disaster benefits fraud by contacting the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General (www.oig.dhs.gov or 1-800-323-8603) or by calling the Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
