⏱ 3 min read
A ruthless scam targeting disaster relief funds meant for Lahaina and Pacific Palisades wildfire victims has landed two perpetrators in federal prison. Chelsea Johnson, 32, of Honolulu, will serve four months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, as part of her sentence for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Her co-defendant, Daylyn Harris, is set to be sentenced on May 4, 2026.
According to court records, Johnson and Harris conspired to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by submitting false claims tied to the devastating wildfires that ravaged Lahaina and Pacific Palisades in recent years. They claimed losses of income, housing, and property that didn’t exist.
Johnson posed as Harris’s Maui landlord, while Harris falsely claimed to reside in Lahaina during the wildfires. He alleged to have lost housing, income, and medical bills, as well as property damage. Johnson, meanwhile, claimed to live in Pacific Palisades, California, and falsely claimed she’d lost housing and incurred other expenses due to the wildfire.
Together, the duo received over $60,000 in disaster relief funds meant for actual wildfire victims. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese prosecuted the pair.
Johnson must pay $60,458 in restitution to FEMA as part of her sentence. The brazen scheme highlights the ongoing threat of disaster relief scams and the importance of holding scammers accountable for their crimes.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Hawaii
- Location: HI
- Source: DOJ Press Release
