TULSA, Okla. – Kerry Lynn Rowell, 42, of Mannford, is facing the consequences for a brazen attempt to profit from tragedy. The woman was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Gregory K. Frizzell to six months of home detention, complete with electronic monitoring, followed by five years of supervised probation. The charge? Illegally siphoning over $31,000 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster assistance intended for victims of the devastating August 2012 Mannford wildfires. U.S. Attorney Danny C. Williams Sr. for the Northern District of Oklahoma announced the sentencing, a small victory in a sea of disaster-related fraud.
Rowell initially pleaded guilty on May 2, 2014, following an information charge filed on March 18, 2014. The details, laid bare in the plea agreement, paint a picture of calculated deception. From August 23, 2012, to September 23, 2013, Rowell systematically lied to FEMA, submitting false statements and forged documents to bolster her claim for disaster relief. She claimed her “primary residence” – a dilapidated, uninhabited property owned by her mother – had been ravaged by the wildfires, along with all her belongings.
The reality, according to investigators, was far different. Rowell didn’t even live at the address she cited. The house, lacking basic utilities, was essentially a shell. She falsely stated that appliances and televisions were destroyed, fabricating losses to inflate her claim. It was a calculated gamble to exploit a system designed to help those genuinely in need, and it paid off – for a while. She ultimately walked away with $31,400 in fraudulently obtained benefits.
The investigation was a joint effort, spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General and the United States Secret Service. These agencies, tasked with protecting federal programs from abuse, uncovered Rowell’s scheme. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin skillfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and ultimately, the sentencing. The Court also ordered Rowell to pay full restitution of $31,400 to FEMA.
This case serves as a stark reminder that defrauding the government, particularly in the wake of a disaster, carries severe consequences. FEMA is urging anyone who may have made an honest mistake in reporting damage or losses to come forward and correct the information immediately. The FEMA Helpline can be reached at 1-800-621-FEMA or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for those with speech or hearing impairments.
Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) encourages anyone with information about potential disaster fraud to report it. The DHS OIG Hotline is available at 1-800-323-8603. All complaints are handled confidentially, and anonymity is guaranteed. Don’t turn a blind eye – report suspected fraud and help protect vital resources intended for those who truly need them. This isn’t just about money; it’s about justice for the victims of the Mannford wildfires.
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Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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