Latasha N. Anders, Wire Fraud, Louisiana 2015
New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty to Oil Spill Claim Scam
Grimy Times Investigation
A 34-year-old New Orleans woman has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill claims process.
Latasha N. Anders, a former claims adjuster for the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF), submitted false claims on behalf of herself and others, resulting in $300,000 in ill-gotten gains. Anders and her co-conspirators made false representations about their employment in the commercial fishing industry, when in fact they were not.
Anders' co-conspirator, Arnold Williams, 33, also of New Orleans, received $50,000 in claim proceeds to which he was not entitled. Both Anders and Williams admitted to purchasing a home for $110,000 using the proceeds from the fraudulent claims.
Anders faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release following imprisonment, and restitution in the amount of $250,000. Williams faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a $50,000 fine, three years of supervised release following imprisonment, and restitution in the amount of $50,000.
U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman set sentencing for September 2, 2015. The case was brought as part of this District’s partnership with the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), a nationwide initiative to protect available funds and assistance for those victims of both natural and man-made disasters.
Anders worked as a claims adjuster for the GCCF, which made disaster assistance money available to individuals and businesses affected by the oil spill. The GCCF required individuals to verify loss of income, but Anders submitted false claims containing false representations and fraudulent documentation that they were employed in the commercial fishing industry at the time of the oil spill.
The GCCF paid out $20 billion in claims following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, one of the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history. The oil spill resulted in the deaths of 11 workers and injured 17 others, with thousands more affected by the subsequent oil spill cleanup.
Individuals with knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations can contact the NCDF by calling the hotline at (866) 720-5721, faxing (225) 334-4707, emailing at disaster@leo.gov, or in writing to National Center for Disaster Fraud, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4909.
Grimy Times thanks the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Secret Service for their work in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia K. Evans is in charge of the prosecution.
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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