[StBernard] GUILTY VERDICT IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON FRAUD CHARGES RELATED TO A HURRICANE DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM

[Westley Annis]

GUILTY VERDICT IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON  FRAUD CHARGES RELATED TO A
HURRICANE DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM 

BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced today that
a federal jury convicted STEPHANIE JACKSON, age 36, of Baton Rouge, on fraud
charges related to a hurricane disaster relief program. 

The two-count indictment, filed May 24, 2007, charged JACKSON with making a
false claim with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for
Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance benefits (Count One) and with illegal
conversion of government property, that is, a check from FEMA for expedited
disaster assistance (Count Two).  JACKSON was found guilty today on both
counts. 

U.S. District Court Judge James J. Brady presided over the two-day jury
trial.  Assistant United States Attorneys Alan A. Stevens and Corey R.
Amundson prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. 

  JACKSON faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a $250,000
fine, or both, on Count One, and a maximum sentence of ten years
imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, on Count Two.  Judge Brady will
sentence the defendant following the completion of a pre-sentence
investigation. 

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's
Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

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 twenty-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 <mailto:HKFTF at leo.gov>
HKFTF at leo.gov or sent by surface mail, with as many details as possible, to
Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, Baton Rouge, LA  70821-4909.