Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Alabama woman faces FEMA fraud charge for $277,377
AP/City Business ^ | 2006-07-27

Posted on 07/28/2006 11:28:06 AM PDT by ncountylee

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - A south Alabama woman was indicted Thursday on federal charges of defrauding FEMA out of $277,377 by making false claims for Hurricane Katrina damages, the U.S. attorney said.

Lawanda T. Williams spent FEMA's money on real estate, vehicles, electronics, a mobile home and other property, U.S. Attorney Deborah J. Rhodes said in a statement.

The 32-year-old Jackson woman, also known as Lawanda Johnson, was arrested on July 18 on charges of wire and mail fraud.

In a 66-count grand jury indictment Thursday, additional charges include making false claims to the government and aggravated identity theft.

U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Cassady declined to release Williams on bond. A trial date hasn't been set.

Federal authorities said Williams, claiming Katrina damages in 30 separate cases, used false Social Security numbers and various names and addresses in Gulfport, Pascagoula and Biloxi, Miss., and New Orleans, as well as her rural home in Jackson, north of Mobile.

If convicted of mail fraud and wire fraud, Williams could be sentenced to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Making false claims to the government could bring five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The identity theft charge carries a mandatory two-year sentence consecutive to any other sentences.

Rhodes said investigations by the Hurricane Katrina Task Force continue to track down those who took advantage of last year's relief efforts.

So far, 11 individuals have been charged in the court's Southern District of Alabama.•


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Politics/Elections; US: Alabama; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: black; corruption; govwatch; katrina; lawanda; negress
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-49 next last

1 posted on 07/28/2006 11:28:07 AM PDT by ncountylee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: ncountylee

Wonder if the $277,377 is the largest suspected Katrina fraud?


2 posted on 07/28/2006 11:28:33 AM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee

I would say the largest Katrina fraud was the MSM.


3 posted on 07/28/2006 11:29:17 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee

She should also have to pay all of the costs of the investigation and prosecution.


4 posted on 07/28/2006 11:29:31 AM PDT by American Quilter (You can't negotiate with people who are dedicated to your destruction.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: American Quilter

Call the U.N..


5 posted on 07/28/2006 11:31:41 AM PDT by massgopguy (massgopguy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee

Whoa! Hand the money out like it's nothing and then go back and nail those who got greedy. Interesting system.


6 posted on 07/28/2006 11:31:54 AM PDT by Right Wing Assault ("..this administration is planning a 'Right Wing Assault' on values and ideals.." - John Kerry)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee
There are always Lawandas out there to steal from taxpayers.
7 posted on 07/28/2006 11:32:05 AM PDT by GeorgefromGeorgia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee

Lawanda


8 posted on 07/28/2006 11:32:34 AM PDT by steveo (Fathers Against Rude Television: You may already be a member)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeorgefromGeorgia

And some of them end up in Congress.


9 posted on 07/28/2006 11:32:56 AM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy
I would say the largest Katrina fraud was the MSM.

You nailed that!

10 posted on 07/28/2006 11:33:15 AM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: massgopguy
Call the U.N..

I can't, because they probably won't be there any more. I e-mailed Karl Rove a few minutes ago asking him to rev up his Magic Weather Machine and target the U.N. building while John Bolton is safely in D.C. Everybody hold onto your hats.

11 posted on 07/28/2006 11:35:05 AM PDT by American Quilter (You can't negotiate with people who are dedicated to your destruction.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: steveo

Yeah, dat chile is oft da muscle!


12 posted on 07/28/2006 11:35:20 AM PDT by RexBeach
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: GeorgefromGeorgia

"Watch it, sucker!"

13 posted on 07/28/2006 11:35:38 AM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: steveo

Jesse Jackson will step in, there will be no prosecution.


14 posted on 07/28/2006 11:35:41 AM PDT by kjo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee
I'm sure she'll use the reparations defense.
15 posted on 07/28/2006 11:36:08 AM PDT by TexasCajun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: American Quilter

Could you share your recipe for obtaining blood from turnips?

Throw her criminal you-know-what in jail and be done with it. She ain't got no assets other than what she sits on.

Who's gonna purchase a used double-wide for $280,000+?


16 posted on 07/28/2006 11:38:10 AM PDT by bigfootbob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator
Some of threm do end up in Congress....like "Sideshow McKinney"

She goes to Sideshow Bob's hairdresser.


17 posted on 07/28/2006 11:38:18 AM PDT by capt. norm (Bumper Sticker: Honk if you've never seen an Uzi shoot from a car window.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee
A lot of the fraud was also made easy by the gov't willingness to throw money around faster then a democrat losing an election. Specifically: Cash cards should have had limitations on amount, frequency of use and places where they could be used. All of that is easily avilable technology that was not implemented.

Their second biggest mistake was trusting people who steal, like Lawanda.

18 posted on 07/28/2006 11:39:20 AM PDT by Michael.SF. (The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other peoples money -- M. Thatcher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ncountylee

Louisiana News

South Alabama woman fugitive on $24,645 FEMA fraud charges
7/14/2006, 4:07 p.m. CT
The Associated Press

JACKSON, Ala. (AP) — Authorities searched for a Jackson woman on charges of filing at least 30 phony disaster relief claims after Hurricane Katrina, collecting at least one FEMA check for about $24,645, the FBI said Friday.


snip


She claimed to have lived in Biloxi, Miss., when Katrina struck Aug. 29. Based on that claim, she received a Federal Emergency Management Agency check for about $24,645.

Williams fled her home in Jackson on July 6 as federal agents prepared to search it. An FBI statement said Williams ran into the woods, but she's known to have other residences in Clarke County.

The 30 aid applications linked to Williams had different addresses, phone numbers and Social Security numbers, which alerted authorities.


19 posted on 07/28/2006 11:39:21 AM PDT by kcvl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: capt. norm

Or Carol Mosely("Well we're movin' on up...")Braun.


20 posted on 07/28/2006 11:39:31 AM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-49 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson