2008 Press Releases

July - September

25 September 2008 FEMA Fraud - Three more Indicted

24 September 2008 FEMA Fraud - Another Sentenced

19 September 2008 Herring Indicted

18 September 2008 FEMA Fraud - Another Indicted, Two more Sentenced

16 September 2008 FEMA Fraud - Three more Sentenced

10 September 2008 FEMA Fraud - Another Sentenced

21 August 2008 FEMA Fraud - Another Charged, Another Sentenced

31 July 2008 FEMA Fraud - Another Pleads Guilty

23 July 2008 FEMA Fraud - Two more Plea Guilty - Another Indicted

18 July 2008 FEMA Fraud - Two more Indicted - Another Sentenced

15 July 2008 FEMA Fraud - Mayfield Guilty Plea

14 July 2008 FEMA Fraud - Jarvis Guilty Plea

11 July 2008 Linda Wallace Indictment

3 July 2008 Barrett Sentencing

25 September 2008 FEMA Fraud - Three more Indicted

THREE MORE INDICTED IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON DISASTER RELIEF FRAUD CHARGES

BATON ROUGE, LA – United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced today that three more Louisiana residents have been indicted on fraud charges related to a hurricane disaster relief program.

TYLISHA D. BARNHILL, age 23, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was charged in a three-count indictment with mail fraud (Count One), illegal theft/conversion of government property (Count Two), and making a false writing/document (Count Three). The indictment alleges that BARNHILL caused a false and fraudulent application to be filed for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) benefits in which she falsely claimed to have been living in New Orleans at the time of Hurricane Katrina. When FEMA contacted BARNHILL regarding her application, BARNHILL created and submitted fraudulent documents to FEMA in an effort to conceal her fraud. The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. If convicted on Count One, BARNHILL faces a maximum sentence of twenty years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both. If convicted on Count Two, BARNHILL faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both. If convicted on Count Three, BARNHILL faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both.

NATASHA N. LONDON, age 32, and JESSICA D. CAVALIER, age 27, both of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, were each charged in two-count indictments with mail fraud and with making a false claim for disaster assistance benefits from FEMA. The indictments allege that both LONDON and CAVALIER submitted false and fraudulent applications for FEMA benefits in which they falsely claimed to have been living in New Orleans at the time of Hurricane Katrina and falsely claiming that Hurricane Katrina caused damage to their homes and personal property. The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. If convicted on the mail fraud count, LONDON and CAVALIER each face a maximum sentence of twenty years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both. If convicted of making a false claim, LONDON and CAVALIER each face a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both.

Today’s indictments bring the total number of individuals who have been charged in the Middle District of Louisiana with violations related to hurricane disaster relief funds to one hundred fifty-five.

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 HKFTF@leo.gov or sent by surface mail, with as many details as possible, to Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.

24 September 2008 FEMA Fraud - Another Sentenced

ANOTHER SENTENCED IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON DISASTER RELIEF FRAUD CHARGES

BATON ROUGE, LA – United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced that another Louisiana resident was sentenced in federal court yesterday on fraud charges related to a hurricane disaster relief program.

TOMIKIA M. BLANCHARD, age 27, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pled guilty on January 31, 2008, to Counts One and Two of an indictment charging her with bank fraud (Count One) and passing a forged United States Treasury check (Count Two). The United States alleged in the indictment and the defendant admitted that she stole a check for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance, valued at more than $5,000, forged the intended recipient’s endorsement on the back of the check, and deposited the check into her personal bank account. BLANCHARD was sentenced on September 23, 2008, by U.S. District Court Judge Frank J. Polozola to a term of imprisonment of four months, five years of supervised release after her imprisonment, and $5,060.07 in restitution. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation of this matter.

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 fifty-two.

19 September 2008 Herring Indicted

INDICTMENT IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON CHARGES OF OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AND PERJURY

United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced that a federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging DAVID L. HERRING, age 37, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with one count of obstruction of justice and fifteen counts of perjury. If convicted of the obstruction of justice charge, HERRING faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, or both. If convicted on the perjury charges, HERRING faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, or both, per count.

The indictment alleges that HERRING made false material statements before a federal grand jury investigating the possible illegal distribution of controlled substances. According to the Indictment, HERRING falsely testified that a medical doctor authorized his prescriptions for hydrocodone, he received the prescriptions for hydrocodone from a medical doctor, and that he was examined by the medical doctor before receiving each prescription.

This case is part of Operation Condor, an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; the Food and Drug Administration, Criminal Investigation; and the Louisiana State Police. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Corey R. Amundson.

NOTE: An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by the defendant. The defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until and unless she is proven guilty at trial.

18 September 2008 FEMA Fraud - Another Indicted, Two more Sentenced

ANOTHER INDICTED, TWO MORE SENTENCED IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON DISASTER RELIEF FRAUD CHARGES

BATON ROUGE, LA – United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced today that another Louisiana resident has been indicted and two more have been sentenced on fraud charges related to a hurricane disaster relief program.

COURTNEY N. STEPTER, age 22, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was charged in a two-count indictment with mail fraud (Count One) and making a false claim with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance benefits (Count Two). The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. If convicted on Count One, STEPTER faces a maximum sentence of twenty years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both. If convicted on Count Two, STEPTER faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both.

ALVIN LEE JOHNSON, age 47, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty on October 29, 2007, to Count One of an indictment charging him with mail fraud. JOHNSON was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ralph E. Tyson to a term of imprisonment of twenty-one months (to be served after JOHNSON completes a state sentence he is currently serving), $2,000.00 in restitution, and three years of supervised release following his imprisonment. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.

IYANA P. NICHOLS, age 31, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty on August 16, 2007, to Count One of an indictment charging her with making a false and fraudulent claim for disaster assistance benefits. NICHOLS was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Frank J. Polozola to a term of probation of five years and $29,680.24 in restitution. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Today’s indictment brings the total number of individuals who have been charged in the Middle District of Louisiana with violations related to hurricane disaster relief funds to one hundred fifty-two.

16 September 2008 FEMA Fraud - Three more Sentenced

THREE MORE SENTENCED IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON DISASTER RELIEF FRAUD CHARGES

BATON ROUGE, LA – Three more Louisiana residents were sentenced in federal court on fraud charges related to a hurricane disaster relief program, United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced today.

THALISHA DAVIS, age 30, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty on September 12, 2007, to an indictment charging her with two counts of making a false and fraudulent claim for disaster assistance benefits (Counts One and Two) and one count of theft of government property (Count Three). According to the stipulated factual basis, DAVIS, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, submitted two fraudulent applications for hurricane disaster assistance benefits from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) using false and fictitious names and Social Security numbers. She received nearly $15,000 as a result of her efforts to defraud FEMA. DAVIS also submitted a fraudulent application for disaster unemployment assistance and received $3,822 in unemployment benefits to which she was not entitled. DAVIS was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Frank J. Polozola to a term of imprisonment of fifteen months, three years of supervised release following her release from prison, $18,571.51 in restitution, and a $300 special assessment. The indictment in this matter was filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas in Houston. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation of this matter.

CLARENA N. McGEE, age 56, of Fluker, Louisiana, pled guilty on October 3, 2007, to Count One of an indictment charging her with wire fraud. According to the factual basis in the plea agreement, the defendant submitted fraudulent applications for individual assistance and disaster unemployment assistance using the name and identity of her deceased twin sister. In addition to the benefits that the defendant received in her own name, McGEE fraudulently received $7,788 in disaster assistance benefits in her deceased sister’s name, to which the defendant was not entitled. McGEE was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Frank J. Polozola to a term of probation of five years, including six months of home detention; $7,788 in restitution; and a $100 special assessment. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation of this matter.

WENDY PATE, age 38, of Ethel, Louisiana, pled guilty on September 19, 2007, to a bill of information charging her with two counts of making false and fraudulent claims for disaster assistance benefits. PATE was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Frank J. Polozola to a term of probation of four years, $9,722.10 in restitution, and a $200 special assessment. The U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation of this matter.

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 fifty-one.

10 September 2008 FEMA Fraud - Another Sentenced

ANOTHER SENTENCED IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON DISASTER RELIEF FRAUD CHARGES

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

TROY N. RANDOLPH, age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty on September 27, 2007, to Count One of an indictment charging him with mail fraud in connection with the filing of a false and fraudulent application for Hurricane Katrina disaster relief benefits. RANDOLPH was sentenced on Monday, September 8, 2008, by U.S. District Court Judge James J. Brady to three years of probation and $2,000 in restitution to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation of this matter with assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.

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 fifty-one.

21 August 2008 FEMA Fraud - Another Charged, Another Sentenced

ANOTHER CHARGED, ANOTHER SENTENCED ON DISASTER RELIEF FRAUD CHARGES IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

BATON ROUGE, LA – United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced today that another Louisiana resident has been charged and another has been sentenced on fraud charges related to hurricane disaster relief programs.

JABAR M. TRIPLETT, age 31, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was charged in a bill of information on August 14, 2008, with mail fraud in connection with the filing of a fraudulent application with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Hurricane Rita disaster assistance benefits (Count One), and with illegal conversion of government property in connection with the unauthorized conversion of a check issued by FEMA to another person for Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance benefits (Count Two). The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Secret Service. If convicted, TRIPLETT faces a maximum sentence of twenty years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, on Count One, and ten years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, on Count Two.

MARY A. ROBERTSON, age 35, of Plaquemine, Louisiana, pled guilty on May 8, 2008, to mail fraud. According to the factual basis, ROBERTSON filed a fraudulent application for FEMA benefits and caused FEMA to disburse five disaster assistance benefit checks to her totaling more than $25,000. ROBERTSON was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge James J. Brady to four months home confinement, five years probation, and $25,709.34 in restitution. The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General and the City of Plaquemine Police Department.

Last week’s charge brings the total number of individuals who have been charged in the Middle District of Louisiana with violations related to hurricane disaster relief funds to one hundred fifty-one.

31 July 2008 FEMA Fraud - Another Pleads Guilty

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

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector
General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security’s Office of Inspector General. As a result of her guilty plea to Count Three,
ATKINS faces a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or
both. As part of the plea agreement, ATKINS has agreed to pay $7,178 in restitution. The
U.S. Attorney’s Office will dismiss Counts One and Two of the indictment when ATKINS
is sentenced on Count Three.

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
forty-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 HKFTF@leo.gov or sent by surface mail, with as
many details as possible, to Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-
4909.

23 July 2008 FEMA Fraud - Two more Plea Guilty - Another Indicted

TWO MORE PLEAD GUILTY, ANOTHER INDICTED IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON DISASTER RELIEF FRAUD CHARGES

BATON ROUGE, LA – United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced today that
two more Louisiana residents pled guilty and another was indicted on fraud charges related to a
hurricane disaster relief program.

MARLON D. RANDOLPH, age 32, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty on July 21,
2008, before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ralph E. Tyson to Count One of an indictment
charging him with mail fraud. The indictment, filed April 2, 2008, charged that RANDOLPH
submitted an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for
Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance benefits that contained false and fraudulent
representations, causing him to receive benefits to which he was not entitled. The case was
investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. As a result of his guilty plea to Count One,
RANDOLPH faces a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine,
or both. As part of the plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will dismiss Count Two of
the indictment when RANDOLPH is sentenced on Count One.

TERRY D. MONTGOMERY, age 23, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty today
before U.S. District Court Judge Frank J. Polozola to Count Two of an indictment charging him
with illegal conversion of government property. The stipulated factual basis contained in the
plea agreement states that in September of 2005, the defendant received and cashed a check
from FEMA for Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance, even though the defendant knew that he
had not suffered damage as a result of the storm and knew that the check had been fraudulently
obtained. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. As a result of his
guilty plea to Count Two, MONTGOMERY faces a maximum sentence of ten (10) years
imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both. As part of the plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney’s
Office will dismiss Count One of the indictment when MONTGOMERY is sentenced on Count
Two.

DEBRA D. JACKSON, age 39, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was charged in a two-count
indictment by a federal grand jury today with wire fraud (Count One) and with making a false
and fraudulent claim for disaster assistance benefits (Count Two). The charges resulted from
an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Secret
Service. If convicted on Count One, JACKSON faces a maximum sentence of twenty (20)
years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both. If convicted on Count Two, JACKSON faces a
maximum sentence of five (5) years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both.

Today’s indictment brings the total number of individuals who have been charged in the
Middle District of Louisiana with violations related to hurricane disaster relief funds to one
hundred forty-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 HKFTF@leo.gov or sent by surface mail, with as many details as
possible, to Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.

18 July 2008 FEMA Fraud - Two more Indicted - Another Sentenced

TWO MORE INDICTED AND ANOTHER SENTENCED ON DISASTER RELIEF FRAUD CHARGES IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

BATON ROUGE, LA – United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced today that
two more Louisiana residents have been indicted and another has been sentenced on fraud
charges related to hurricane disaster relief programs.

SHANDOLYN D. THOMAS, age 22, of Baker, Louisiana, was charged in an indictment
yesterday by a federal grand jury with three counts of mail fraud and one count of making a
false and fraudulent claim for disaster assistance benefits with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). The indictment alleges that in or about September 2005,
THOMAS devised a scheme to defraud FEMA to obtain money and property from FEMA, by
causing a fraudulent application for Hurricane Katrina disaster relief benefits to be submitted
that falsely claimed THOMAS’ primary residence at the time of storm was in New Orleans,
Louisiana. The indictment charges that the application falsely claimed that Hurricane Katrina
caused damage to THOMAS’ home and personal property in New Orleans when, in fact,
THOMAS was not living in New Orleans at the time of the storm. The charges resulted from
an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. If convicted on the mail fraud counts,
THOMAS faces a maximum sentence of twenty years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both,
per count. If convicted on the false claim count, THOMAS faces a maximum sentence of five
years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both.

WAKITA A. TONEY, age 21, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was charged in a two-count
indictment yesterday with mail fraud (Count One) and with making a false and fraudulent
claim for disaster assistance benefits (Count Two). The indictment alleges that in or about
September 2005, TONEY devised a scheme to defraud FEMA to obtain money and property
from FEMA, by causing a fraudulent application for Hurricane Katrina disaster relief benefits
to be submitted that falsely claimed TONEY’s primary residence at the time of storm was in
New Orleans, Louisiana. The indictment charges that the application falsely claimed that
Hurricane Katrina caused damage to TONEY’s home and personal property in New Orleans
when, in fact, TONEY was not living in New Orleans at the time of the storm. The charges
resulted from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. If convicted on Count One,
TONEY faces a maximum sentence of twenty years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both. If
convicted on Count Two, LEE faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a
$250,000 fine, or both.

KIMBERLY S. BOWMAN, age 22, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty on October
11, 2007, to Count One of an indictment charging her with mail fraud in connection with the
filing of false and fraudulent claims with FEMA for disaster assistance benefits, and a false and
fraudulent claim for disaster unemployment assistance. BOWMAN was sentenced today by
U.S. District Court Judge John V. Parker to five years of probation and $8,255 in restitution.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Department of
Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

Today’s indictments bring the total number of individuals who have been charged in the
Middle District of Louisiana with violations related to hurricane disaster relief funds to one
hundred forty-seven.

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 HKFTF@leo.gov or sent by surface mail, with as many details as
possible, to Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.

15 July 2008 FEMA Fraud - Mayfield Guilty Plea

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

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

JOYCE G. MAYFIELD, age 53, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty today before
U.S. District Court Judge John V. Parker to Count One of an indictment charging her with
making a false and fraudulent claim for disaster assistance benefits. The indictment charged
that MAYFIELD filed a false and fraudulent application with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) for Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance benefits, falsely
claiming that she had been living in Gretna, Louisiana, at the time of the storm. The case was
investigated by the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. As a result of her guilty plea to Count
One, MAYFIELD faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or
both. As part of the plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will dismiss Count Two of the
indictment when MAYFIELD is sentenced on Count One.

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 forty-five.

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 HKFTF@leo.gov or sent by surface mail, with as many details as
possible, to Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.

14 July 2008 FEMA Fraud - Jarvis Guilty Plea

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

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

ANGELA M. JARVIS, age 27, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty today before
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ralph E. Tyson to Count One of an indictment charging her
with mail fraud. The indictment charged that JARVIS filed false and fraudulent applications
for Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance benefits, including one application using a fictitious
New Orleans address. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. As a result of her guilty
plea to Count One, JARVIS faces a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, a
$250,000 fine, or both. As part of the plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will dismiss
Count Two of the indictment when JARVIS is sentenced on Count One.

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 forty-five.

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

possible, to Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.

11 July 2008 Linda Wallace Indictment

United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a four count indictment charging Linda J. Wallace, age 46, of Zachary, Louisiana, with mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341, and forfeiture. If convicted, Wallace faces up to 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both on each count. She would also face a restitution order and a forfeiture of property relating to the offenses.

The Indictment alleges that Wallace defrauded the State of Louisiana and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services out of over $700,000 from May 2003 through January 2008. According to the Indictment, Wallace, who served as the director of Mary Lee’s Day Care in Baton Rouge, submitted false and fraudulent invoices seeking funds from the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), a federally funded program to assist children from low income families.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Louisiana Department of Social Services. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Corey R. Amundson.

"Today's action sends a message to those who defraud the nation's assistance programs that the HHS Office of Inspector General will work aggressively with our federal, state, and local partners to eliminate this type of fraud," said Special Agent In Charge Mike Fields, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General.

“I am proud of the relationship the Department of Social Services has with our federal partners,” said DSS Secretary Ann Silverberg Williamson. “This result illustrates our commitment to sound delivery of services to Louisiana's children and families.”

NOTE: An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that probable cause exists to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty at trial.

3 July 2008 Barrett Sentencing

DEFENDANT SENTENCED IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ON CHARGES OF POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON AND POSSESSION OF AN UNREGISTERED SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN

BATON ROUGE, LA – United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced that JEREMY CARLTON BARRETT, age 45, of Ventress, Louisiana, was sentenced today in federal court by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ralph E. Tyson on gun charges.

BARRETT pled guilty on February 6, 2008, to a two-count indictment charging possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (Count One) and possession of an unregistered sawed-off shotgun (Count Two). BARRETT was sentenced today to a term of imprisonment of 216 months on Count One and 120 months on Count Two, to run concurrently, for a total term of imprisonment of eighteen years. Judge Tyson ordered that this sentence be served consecutive to a state court sentence BARRETT is currently serving, for which he is not eligible for release until 2013.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alan A. Stevens.

The United States Attorney's Office

Middle District of Louisiana

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2008 Press Releases

July - September