The United States Attorney's Office

Middle District of Louisiana

ANOTHER SENTENCED IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON FEDERAL FEMA FRAUD CHARGES

BATON ROUGE, LA – Another Louisiana resident was sentenced in federal court by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ralph E. Tyson on fraud charges related to a hurricane disaster relief program, United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced today.

MARY JOHNSON, age 52, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty on September 19, 2006, to Count One of an indictment charging her with making a false claim for Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance benefits. JOHNSON was sentenced today to three years of probation, $2,000 in restitution, and 50 hours of community service. The U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation of this matter.

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

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE United States Attorney Donald W. Washington Western District of Louisian United States Courthouse • 300 Fannin Street, Suite 3201 • Shreveport, Louisiana 71101-3068 • (318) 676-3600 United States Courthouse • 800 Lafayette Street, Suite 2200 • Lafayette, Louisiana 70501-7206 • (337) 262-6618

The United States Attorney's Office Middle District of Louisiana ANOTHER SENTENCED IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON FEDERAL FEMA FRAUD CHARGES BATON ROUGE, LA – Another Louisiana resident was sentenced in federal court by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ralph E. Tyson on fraud charges related to a hurricane disaster relief program, United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced today. MARY JOHNSON, age 52, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty on September 19, 2006, to Count One of an indictment charging her with making a false claim for Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance benefits. JOHNSON was sentenced today to three years of probation, $2,000 in restitution, and 50 hours of community service. The U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation of this matter. The number of individuals who have been charged in the Middle District of Louisiana with violations related to hurricane disaster relief funds stands at ninety-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 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.