Federal Bureau of Investigation - New Orleans Field Division

GUILTY VERDICT IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON FRAUD CHARGES RELATED TO A HURRICANE DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM

BATON ROUGE, LA – United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced today that a federal jury convicted STEPHANIE JACKSON, age 36, of Baton Rouge, on fraud charges related to a hurricane disaster relief program.

The two-count indictment, filed May 24, 2007, charged JACKSON with making a false claim with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance benefits (Count One) and with illegal conversion of government property, that is, a check from FEMA for expedited disaster assistance (Count Two). JACKSON was found guilty today on both counts.

U.S. District Court Judge James J. Brady presided over the two-day jury trial. Assistant United States Attorneys Alan A. Stevens and Corey R. Amundson prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

JACKSON faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, on Count One, and a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, on Count Two. Judge Brady will sentence the defendant following the completion of a pre-sentence investigation.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The number of individuals who have been charged in the Middle District of Louisiana with violations related to hurricane disaster relief funds stands at one hundred twenty-eight.

In September 2005, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales created the Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, designed to deter, investigate and prosecute disaster-related federal crimes such as charity fraud, identity theft, procurement fraud and insurance fraud. The Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force – chaired by Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division – includes the FBI, the U.S. Inspectors General community, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Executive Office for United States Attorneys and others.

For further information, contact David R. Dugas, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana, or Lyman Thornton, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, at (225) 389-0443. Anyone suspecting criminal activity involving disaster assistance programs can make an anonymous report by calling the toll-free Hurricane Relief Fraud Hotline, 1-866-720-5721, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until further notice. Information can also be emailed to the Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force at <mailto:HKFTF@leo.gov> HKFTF@leo.gov or sent by surface mail, with as many details as possible, to Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: DAVID R. DUGAS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2007 (225) 389-0443 WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/LAM FAX: (225) 389-0561

GUILTY VERDICT IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON FRAUD CHARGES RELATED TO A HURRICANE DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM BATON ROUGE, LA – United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced today that a federal jury convicted STEPHANIE JACKSON, age 36, of Baton Rouge, on fraud charges related to a hurricane disaster relief program. The two-count indictment, filed May 24, 2007, charged JACKSON with making a false claim with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance benefits (Count One) and with illegal conversion of government property, that is, a check from FEMA for expedited disaster assistance (Count Two). JACKSON was found guilty today on both counts. U.S. District Court Judge James J. Brady presided over the two-day jury trial. Assistant United States Attorneys Alan A. Stevens and Corey R. Amundson prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. JACKSON faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, on Count One, and a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, on Count Two. Judge Brady will sentence the defendant following the completion of a pre-sentence investigation. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The number of individuals who have been charged in the Middle District of Louisiana with violations related to hurricane disaster relief funds stands at one hundred twenty-eight. In September 2005, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales created the Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, designed to deter, investigate and prosecute disaster-related federal crimes such as charity fraud, identity theft, procurement fraud and insurance fraud. The Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force – chaired by Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division – includes the FBI, the U.S. Inspectors General community, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Executive Office for United States Attorneys and others. For further information, contact David R. Dugas, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana, or Lyman Thornton, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, at (225) 389-0443. Anyone suspecting criminal activity involving disaster assistance programs can make an anonymous report by calling the toll-free Hurricane Relief Fraud Hotline, 1-866-720-5721, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until further notice. Information can also be emailed to the Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force at <mailto:HKFTF@leo.gov> HKFTF@leo.gov or sent by surface mail, with as many details as possible, to Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.