LOUISIANA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO “KATRINA FRAUD”

NEW ORLEANS, La. – John Chiem, 48, a resident of Gretna, La., pled guilty today in Federal District Court to a one count bill of information for Theft of Government Money related to a fraudulent claim he submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shortly after Hurricane Katrina, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to court documents, Chiem filed a claim for FEMA assistance on Sept. 9, 2005 for a home he formerly owned in Buras, Louisiana. The home, which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina on Aug. 29, 2005, had been sold by Chiem to another family in December 2004. Chiem admitted today that he was not entitled to the over $10,000 in government assistance he fraudulently obtained in the fall of 2005.

Upon sentencing, Chiem faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the prosecution was handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney Dan Friel.


U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE United States Attorney Jim Letten Eastern District of Louisiana FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 2007 WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/LAE		CONTACT: KATHY ENGLISH PHONE: (504) 680-3068 FAX: (504) 589-4978

LOUISIANA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO “KATRINA FRAUD” NEW ORLEANS, La. – John Chiem, 48, a resident of Gretna, La., pled guilty today in Federal District Court to a one count bill of information for Theft of Government Money related to a fraudulent claim he submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shortly after Hurricane Katrina, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten. According to court documents, Chiem filed a claim for FEMA assistance on Sept. 9, 2005 for a home he formerly owned in Buras, Louisiana. The home, which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina on Aug. 29, 2005, had been sold by Chiem to another family in December 2004. Chiem admitted today that he was not entitled to the over $10,000 in government assistance he fraudulently obtained in the fall of 2005. Upon sentencing, Chiem faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a $250,000 fine. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the prosecution was handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney Dan Friel.