Jasmine Williams, a 34-year-old resident of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to five years in prison for orchestrating a scheme to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) out of more than $1.7 million in disaster relief funds following Hurricane Ida. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney David Metcalf and handed down by U.S. District Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge.
Williams was indicted in April 2024 on one count of fraud related to a major disaster declaration, 24 counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of mail fraud. She pleaded guilty to all charges in September last year.
According to court documents, after President Joseph R. Biden declared much of eastern Pennsylvania a major disaster area due to Hurricane Ida in September 2021, FEMA began offering financial assistance to those whose homes or properties had been damaged.
Williams used social media platforms to recruit others into her scheme, advertising that she could help them apply for FEMA benefits regardless of their housing status. She then submitted fraudulent documentation—including fake leases, landlord letters, utility bills, earning statements, and home repair estimates—on behalf of nearly 200 individuals.
In return for her services, Williams demanded half the amount awarded by FEMA from each participant. Court records show she collected hundreds of thousands of dollars through this arrangement. When some participants refused to pay her share, Williams posted their personal information online and shared videos criticizing them for not paying her requested fee. She also solicited images of damaged homes via social media to bolster fraudulent applications.
The court found that between October 2021 and March 2023, FEMA disbursed $1,744,982.64 based on Williams’s false claims.
The investigation was led by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General with support from FEMA Fraud Prevention and Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Ruth Mandelbaum and S. Chandler Harris prosecuted the case.
"This case demonstrates our commitment to holding accountable those who exploit natural disasters for personal gain," said United States Attorney David Metcalf.
