Woman gets six months for theft of FEMA money

SunHerald ^ | 1/7/11 | ROBIN FITZGERALD

[WVKayaker]

GULFPORT -- A woman who made false claims for disaster assistance, by using the same fraudulent address in Stone County as a relative, has been sentenced to six months in prison.

U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden sentenced Brandy N. Meadows on Thursday, and ordered her to help make restitution of $33,000 to FEMA. The judge ordered her to forfeit $26,200.

Meadows faced prosecution on multiple charges but pleaded guilty in October to one count of theft of public money. She falsely claimed she was living in a mobile home on Camp Road in Wiggins when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.

She received three checks by mail between September 2005 and July 2006, resulting in three charges of mail fraud and an additional charge of making a fraudulent claim. Those charges were dismissed.

[WVKayaker]

...She faced up to 10 years in prison on the theft charge.

Meadows had remained free on bond until October, when the court found she had violated conditions of her bond. She and another woman were arrested Oct. 4 in Greene County on charges of aiding and abetting in the escape of two inmates, identified as the women’s boyfriends. Sheriff’s officials said the two inmates escaped through an air-duct system and were found with the women at apartments in Leakesville.

Sunshine S. Meadows, related to Brandy Meadows by marriage, is held pending sentencing in federal court on the theft charge March 9. She faces similar penalties on a guilty plea to a theft charge involving the same fraudulent address in Wiggins and money she wasn’t eligible to receive from FEMA.

Sunshine Meadows’ bond also was revoked in October. Records show tests confirmed she had been smoking marijuana, and had provided the court with false contact and employment information.

[WVKayaker]

Your Tax Dollars at work!!! Bump!

[Bronzy]

Where are those located? I could use a nifty little trailer on some acreage I have.

[WVKayaker]

I got the pics from the internet. But, just Google (or whatever search engine you desire) or check Craiglist- (2006 R-VISION 32 FOOT CAMPER - $3350 (RUSHVILLE IN)) near you, under recreational vehicles. The Bush Gum't bought too many, stored them for a few years (it's been five years+), and has finally sold them for 10 cents on the dollar. A local car dealer has about a hundred or so at this time. He is making a killing!