Irma Fraud: Cocoa Beach Man Faces 30 Years

JACKSONVILLE, FL – Albert Chris Partee, 25, of Cocoa Beach, Florida, is facing serious federal charges after being indicted for defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following Hurricane Irma. United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announced the indictment today, alleging Partee knowingly falsified information to illegally obtain disaster relief funds.

The indictment details that in September 2017, as Hurricane Irma ravaged Florida, Partee allegedly submitted a fraudulent application to FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. He is accused of providing false records regarding his primary residence in an attempt to qualify for assistance he wasn’t entitled to. If convicted, Partee could spend up to 30 years behind bars.

The timing couldn’t be worse for Partee. He’s already locked up on unrelated charges in Indiana. Authorities have scheduled his initial appearance in Jacksonville federal court for May 20, 2019, where he’ll formally be arraigned on the new charges. This isn’t a slap on the wrist; it’s a clear message that exploiting disaster relief will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Federal investigators with the Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General uncovered the alleged scheme. They are part of the United States Attorney’s Disaster Fraud Task Force, launched in September 2017 specifically to combat fraud related to natural disasters. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein will lead the prosecution, aiming to secure a conviction and send a message to other potential fraudsters.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Partee, like all defendants in the American justice system, is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. However, the evidence presented will determine his fate, and the stakes are high with a potential three-decade sentence looming.

Grimy Times reminds the public: if you suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement related to disaster relief, report it. The National Disaster Fraud Hotline is available 24/7 at (866) 720-5721. You can also fax information to (225) 334-4707, email disaster@leo.gov, or visit www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl. Don’t let scammers profit from tragedy; report them.