[StBernard] ANOTHER PLEADS GUILTY IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON DISASTER RELIEF FRAUD CHARGES

[Westley Annis]

ANOTHER PLEADS GUILTY IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON DISASTER RELIEF FRAUD
CHARGES

BATON ROUGE, LA - Another Louisiana resident pled guilty in federal court on
fraud charges related to a hurricane disaster relief program, United States
Attorney David R. Dugas announced today. 

SHAWANDA R. JOHNSON, age 34, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty today
before U.S. District Court Judge James J. Brady to a two-count indictment
charging her with mail fraud (Count One) and with making a false and
fraudulent claim for disaster assistance benefits (Count Two). The case was
investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation. As a result of her guilty plea, JOHNSON faces a maximum
sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, on
Count One, and a maximum sentence of five (5) years imprisonment, a $250,000
fine, or both, on Count Two.

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-nine. 

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.