NEW ORLEANS WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEMA FRAUD

TRINISE CAUSEY, age 31, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty yesterday before U. S. District Judge Lance Africk to one count of wire fraud, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to the factual basis, in September, 2005, TRINISE CAUSEY filed a false claim with the FEMA in which she claimed to have incurred property losses due to Hurricane Katrina. In furtherance of her claim, in November, 2005, CAUSEY submitted a forged lease in support of the claim. Based on this, in March, 2006, FEMA transferred approximately $2,358 in rental assistance into CAUSEY’S bank account.

The defendant faces a possible maximum statutory penalty of twenty (20) years imprisonment. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 3, 2008 at 2:00 P.M.

TRINISE CAUSEY was indicted in the Western District of Oklahoma on September 5, 2007. The case was transferred to the Eastern District of Louisiana after CAUSEY was located in New Orleans and agreed to plead guilty.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Andre’ Jones.