BATON ROUGE, LA – United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced that two more Louisiana residents pled guilty today in federal court on fraud charges related to a hurricane disaster relief program. 

        QUENTIN C. DUNN, a/k/a CARLNEL WHITFIELD, age 26, of Jackson, Louisiana, pled guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Frank J. Polozola to Count Three of an indictment charging him with access device fraud.  The indictment charged DUNN with carrying out a scheme to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Louisiana Department of Labor (LDOL) by causing two fraudulent applications for disaster unemployment assistance (DUA) to be filed on his behalf.  The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  As a result of his guilty plea to Count Three, DUNN faces a maximum sentence of ten (10) years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both.  As part of the plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will dismiss Counts One and Two of the indictment when DUNN is sentenced on Count Three.

        CHIQUITA L. WILEY, a/k/a CHIQUITA L. GRIFFIN, age 34, of Port Allen, Louisiana, pled guilty today before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ralph E. Tyson to Count One of an indictment charging her with making a false and fraudulent claim for disaster assistance benefits.  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.  As a result of her guilty plea to Count One, WILEY faces a maximum sentence of five (5) years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both.  As part of the plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will dismiss Count Two of the indictment when WILEY is sentenced on Count One.

        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 forty-three.      

        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 <mailto: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.