Katrina fraud:
Between September, 2005 and April, 2006, 259 defendants nationwide were charged in 216 cases, most of them fraud, according to Justice Department spokesman Bryan Sierra.
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An ongoing 9NEWS probe, which began last December, has uncovered instances of people receiving subsidies for food, clothing and housing by falsely claiming to have been in New Orleans when the storm hit Aug. 29, 2005.
So far, at least nine individuals have been found taking an estimated total of more than $70,000 in undeserved assistance.
9news.com
Of these, six suspects have been sentenced in connection with fraud after being exposed by 9NEWS, and a seventh - apprehended by the Aurora police after tip - is awaiting trial for forgery and fraud. The US Secret Service investigated the cases and assisted the US District Attorney in Colorado in prosecuting the individuals.
But two more have escaped detection for apparently milking the system. Gabriel Miller, 29, whose last known address was an apartment at 1125 Columbine Street, said he barely survived the hurricane, moving to Denver two days after it struck.
"I was actually walking through the water, trying to make it to the Superdome," he told 9News. He has collected some $3,600 in Federal Emergency Management Agency rental subsidies through a charity as a result of his claims.
However, an official of the Denver Rescue Mission asserts that Miller was living there from August 14th, 2005 through Sept. 9, 2005.
"As far as the Denver Rescue Mission was concerned, he was with us during hurricane Katrina," said the agency's Greta Ritchey .
Further, the address he told FEMA officials he rented in New Orleans was actually a building that has been under renovation for years, according to the property's landlord.
"I don't know this man. This man did not live in my house, not one day in 2005," said Ken Millet, owner of 538 S. Cortez Street in New Orleans.
Another supposed victim, Brandie Angelle, 27, of 8350 E. Yale Ave., Denver, accepted rent, toys and other items valued at some $6,400, though she was not a New Orleans resident.
When asked by a reporter if she deserved the money, Angelle said, "I guess not."
Both Miller and Angelle are believed to have fled the state. A Secret Service agent said the agency will pursue them. In addition, they are looking at six others suspected of fraud in Colorado.
Miller and Angelle are typical of those who have slipped through the cracks, officials admit. Even with more than 11,000 tips coming to a Hurricane Fraud hotline run by the Hurricane Fraud Task Force in Baton Rouge, LA., the scope of the disaster makes it difficult to ferret out criminals.
Marty Metelko , spokeswoman for the Office of Inspector General under Department of Homeland Security, said they are able "to investigate only ten percent of the calls."
Metelko said that "what people forget is the scale of this disaster; it was an unprecedented proportion. Because of that, there is a lot of waste, fraud and abuse that occurred. It's impossible for the IG to find every instance of waste, fraud and abuse simply because of the scale of the disaster."
State officials say there are about 1,250 families - mostly in Denver and Colorado Springs - getting about $1 million in monthly rent relief through FEMA. They are part of a pool of more than two million registered for FEMA benefits by March, according to FEMA spokeswoman Susan Greatorex.
Between September, 2005 and April, 2006, 259 defendants nationwide were charged in 216 cases, most of them fraud, according to Justice Department spokesman Bryan Sierra.
That tally does not reflect the arrest two months ago by Aurora police of Eugene Day, 49, 3101 S. Alcott Street, Sheridan. Day, who is scheduled to appear in Arapahoe District Court later this month, is charged with felony theft and forgery for allegedly taking more than $10,000 in Katrina aid.
Authorities believe Day used the money to purchase his home.
Here is a look at what's happened to the other evacuees exposed by 9NEWS or the US Secret Service:
A federal Judge on Friday sentenced Jack Ervin to 27 months in prison, ordered him to pay restitution and ordered him to 3 years supervised release after he gets out of prison.
Roosevelt Gray was sentenced to 4 months in prison and told to repay $2,000 restitution. His sister, Rhoda Gray, received 5 years probation and must pay back $8,899. Lindetta Brewer got 4 months in prison and $7,614 restitution.
Chandra Donley was ordered to one year in federal prison. After that, Donley must serve 3 years supervised release and repay $12,150. A judge sentenced Antoinette Allen to 3 years probation and $4,316 restitution. |
