A 37-year-old Denham Springs woman has been indicted for stealing $30,644 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds after the 2016 flooding in Louisiana.
Lisa Elizabeth Corona faces charges of submitting false claims to the United States and theft of disaster assistance funds.
The indictment alleges that Corona submitted a false application for FEMA assistance for a Denham Springs residence where she did not reside at the time of the August 2016 flooding.
Corona allegedly lied in her application, asserting that she had emergency needs for food, clothing, and shelter due to the damage to the residence.
“Federal disaster assistance funds are designated for the aid of individuals affected by a disaster, and with the intent to return these individuals to the lives they lived before being victimized by disasters,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon J. Fremin.
“The theft of these funds by criminals results in losses not only to the federal government, but also to actual disaster victims. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, together with the National Center for Disaster Fraud and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, will continue diligent efforts to prosecute those who seek to steal disaster assistance funds and impair the Federal Government’s ability to assist true victims of a disaster,” added Fremin.
Members of the public who suspect fraud involving disaster relief efforts can contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll-free at (866) 720-5721. The telephone line is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana and the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General.
The defendant’s real full name is Lisa Elizabeth Corona.
The exact criminal charges are submitting false claims to the United States and theft of disaster assistance funds.
The city and state are Denham Springs, Louisiana.
The exact date of the crime is August 2016.
The dollar amount stolen is $30,644.
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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