Jennifer Williams, Disaster Fraud and Theft, Louisiana 2015

Harvey woman’s web of lies unravels as she pleads guilty to disaster fraud and theft, facing up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Jennifer Williams, 33, of Harvey, Louisiana, was charged with one count of disaster fraud and five counts of theft from the United States, according to a recent plea agreement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana announced the guilty plea, which was entered on an unknown date.

Williams’ troubles began in October 2012, when she filed an application with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following Hurricane Isaac. She claimed that her home had been damaged and that she needed rental assistance, but investigators determined that her application and supporting documentation were false.

According to court records, Williams received a total of $17,040 in rental assistance after making false statements to FEMA about her living arrangements. However, investigators found that she had never rented another property after the hurricane.

Williams faces a possible maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, followed by up to 5 years of supervised release, as well as a fine of $250,000, for the disaster fraud count. She also faces up to 10 years imprisonment, followed by up to 3 years of supervised release, as well as a fine of $250,000, for each of the five theft counts.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Fraud Unit is in charge of the prosecution.

The sentencing hearing for Williams is scheduled for November 5, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown. Williams’ guilty plea marks the latest in a string of cases involving individuals who have attempted to defraud the government in the wake of natural disasters.

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