Press Releases
WOMAN SENTENCED FOR DEFRAUDING THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE KATRINA
October 28, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IRMA JEAN HANEY, age 45, a former resident of Natalbany, Louisiana, was sentenced today in front of U. S. District Judge Helen G. Berrigan to five (5) years probation with two (2) months home confinement for defrauding the American Red Cross in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition to the probationary period, HANEY is required to pay back the entirety of the $6,260 in disaster assistance funds she fraudulently obtained.
According to court documents, IRMA JEAN HANEY fraudulently applied for disaster assistance funds from the American Red Cross on five (5) separate occasions between September and October 2005. The Red Cross made disaster assistance funds of up to $1,565 available to those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 on a one-time only basis. In all, HANEY fraudulently obtained $6,260 from the American Red Cross.
The case was investigated by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Matt Chester.
