Miami Duo Accused of Harvey Relief Fund Scam

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FL – Two South Florida residents are facing federal charges for allegedly exploiting the devastation of Hurricane Harvey to line their pockets. Fredna Frederic, 27, and Courtney Lillie Gillis, 28, both of Miami-Dade County, have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud, according to a statement released by the Department of Justice.

The scheme targeted disaster-relief funds earmarked for victims of Hurricane Harvey, which ravaged the Houston, Texas area. A humanitarian organization distributed the funds through various companies, including a national retailer based in Bentonville, Arkansas. To qualify for the $400 relief payments, applicants needed to provide verifiable information – names, addresses, and dates of birth – of residents impacted by the storm.

Federal prosecutors allege that Frederic and her co-conspirators fraudulently submitted applications using the identities of actual Harvey victims to obtain reference codes redeemable for the $400 payments. The indictment details how Frederic allegedly recruited Courtney Lillie Gillis, an employee at the national retail store, offering her a kickback for processing the fraudulent reference codes. Approximately fifteen such transactions allegedly occurred, with Gillis allegedly issuing payments directly to Frederic and her associates.

“After Hurricane Harvey struck the Houston, Texas area, a humanitarian organization made disaster-relief funds available,” stated U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan. “These funds were dispensed by a number of companies, including a national retailer headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas.” According to the DOJ, Frederic allegedly provided Gillis with the fraudulently obtained reference codes, which Gillis then entered into the retailer’s system, triggering the illegal payments.

If convicted, both Frederic and Gillis face a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, substantial fines, and a period of supervised release. An indictment is not a finding of guilt; both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, led the investigation. Anyone with information regarding disaster fraud is encouraged to contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720-5721.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marty Fulgueira Elfenbein is prosecuting the case. Court documents are available on the District Court for the Southern District of Florida website: www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the USSS for their work on the case. This is yet another example of individuals attempting to profit from tragedy, and the Grimy Times will continue to report on these abuses of power and compassion.

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