Danielle Randall, FEMA Fund Theft, LA 2012

Danielle Randall, 42, of Gretna, Louisiana, pled guilty today to stealing $10,953 in federal disaster relief funds meant for victims of Hurricane Isaac. The theft unfolded over months of deliberate lies to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, exploiting a system designed to help the desperate.

In the storm’s aftermath on August 29, 2012, FEMA declared a major disaster across southeastern Louisiana and opened emergency aid applications for housing and personal property damage. Randall applied, claiming her apartment was damaged. She received an initial $3,000 disbursement—then kept filing for more.

She didn’t stop when the help ended. Instead, Randall submitted false rental addresses and inflated housing expenses to keep the checks coming. Her deception led to four U.S. Treasury checks—totaling $10,953—deposited into her account, money she had no legal right to collect.

The fraud didn’t go unnoticed forever. Investigators with the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, uncovered the false claims through financial and address verification. Evidence showed Randall never rented the properties she listed and had no qualifying housing costs after the initial payout.

Now, Randall faces the full weight of federal law. She’s looking at up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and mandatory restitution of at least $10,953. U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier has set sentencing for May 4, 2017.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite credited DHS-OIG for their relentless work on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharan E. Lieberman is leading the prosecution, sending a clear message: disaster relief theft will be hunted down and punished.

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