Rocky Mount Woman Sentenced for FEMA Fraud

RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced SHEILA RUFFIN, 51, of Rocky Mount, to thirty days of imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release.

RUFFIN was charged in an Indictment with 15 counts of fraud related to the Hurricane Matthew recovery effort conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  On May 22, 2019, RUFFIN pled guilty pursuant to a written plea agreement to one count of Disaster Fraud.

On October 8, 2016, Hurricane Matthew impacted the coast of North Carolina, bringing record storm surge levels and catastrophic flooding. In the aftermath, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration was issued covering certain eastern North Carolina counties.  The declaration enabled various forms of federal disaster assistance that was administered by FEMA.

From February 2017 to April 2018, on 15 occasions, RUFFIN made false statements and submitted fraudulent documentation in connection with applications for FEMA assistance.  RUFFIN falsely claimed that her pre-hurricane residence remained uninhabitable, requiring her to pay for temporary housing.  As a result, RUFFIN received $11,250 in rental assistance to which she was not entitled.  As part of the sentence, RUFFIN was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,250.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, conducted investigation of this case.  Assistant United States Attorney Toby Lathan prosecuted the case for the government.