Three Charged for Fraudulently Seeking FEMA Funds Following LA Fires

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Three defendants were arrested the week of March 12 after being charged with defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency, seeking federal disaster relief funds by falsely claiming their properties were damaged by the Eaton and Palisades fires, the United States Department of Justice announced.

“Three defendants have been charged in recent days with fraudulently seeking federal disaster relief funds by falsely claiming their properties were damaged by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires when in fact they did not have an interest in the affected property or the property was not affected by either fire,” according to the Justice Department.

The cases announced on March 12 were investigated by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and HSI’s El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, the statement read.

In the wake of the Los Angeles fires that started on January 7, the President approved a Major Disaster Declaration, which prompted FEMA to develop a program to provide financial assistance to fire victims, including a one-time payment of $750, up to $43,600 for “other needs” assistance and housing assistance for up to 18 months. Additionally, homeowners became potentially eligible for additional relief up to $43,600 for home repair.

“The fraud alleged in the three cases include payment of ‘other needs assistance’ based on false claims of damage to personal property, lost vehicles, and medical and relocation expenses,” according to the Justice Department.

Two of the defendants were in Southern California and one in Texas, according to the Justice Department, who were all arrested the week of March 12 following the charges.

“These defendants allegedly made false and fraudulent claims to FEMA for emergency benefits related to wildfires that devastated Los Angeles County two months ago,” Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally said. “These false claims resulted in badly needed disaster-relief money being denied to actual wildfire victims while these defendants allegedly used property information to illegally line their own pockets.”

After being charged in a criminal complaint filed Monday, March 10, Hedeshia Robertson of Lakewood was arrested on Tuesday, March 11.

“Robertson allegedly filed a fraudulent application for FEMA benefits on January 28, seeking benefits related to a damaged residence in the Pacific Palisades that she did not own, did not rent, and in which she did not reside or work,” according to the Justice Department. “As a result of her fraudulent application, Robertson obtained approximately $24,899 in FEMA benefits to which she was not entitled. At the time of her arrest, Robertson also allegedly attempted to obtain additional FEMA benefits for a purported property lease in San Francisco.”

Tyrone D. Barnes of Paramount was also arrested on Tuesday after being named in an indictment that charged him with making false claims that was returned by a federal grand jury in February, read the statement.

“The indictment alleges that Barnes submitted a disaster relief claim to FEMA for an Altadena property owned by other individuals who did not know Barnes,” the statement continued. “The true owners of the property contacted FEMA about potential assistance, which is when they learned another person had already submitted an application in relation to their property.”

Joyce Turner of Rosharon, Texas, was arrested on Tuesday after being charged Friday, March 7, in a criminal complaint with fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits, according to the Justice Department.

“Turner allegedly submitted an application claiming her home had been destroyed in the Eaton fire, but she appears never to have lived in California and in fact had no connection to the address she claimed was destroyed in the fire,” read the statement. “Instead, she allegedly forged a lease making it look like she lived there, and she received more than $25,000 from FEMA because of the fraudulent submissions.”

Turner has submitted at least 10 other applications to FEMA for disaster relief related to seven federally declared disasters, the affidavit read, including Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Isaac. She “otherwise has a criminal history showing previous arrests and convictions for fraud offenses,” the affidavit continued.

“Complaints and indictments contain allegations of criminal conduct,” read the statement. “All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

“The charge of fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits carries a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. The charge of false, fictitious or fraudulent claim against the United States carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.”