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Slidell Woman Sentenced for Oil Spill Relief Scam
KEISHANDRA HOUSTON, a 36-year-old resident of Slidell, Louisiana, has been sentenced to one year of probation for committing wire fraud in connection with her application for financial assistance in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
According to court documents, HOUSTON falsely represented to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) that she worked as a cook at a seafood restaurant and suffered financially due to lost employment as a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident. To support this fraudulent claim, HOUSTON wired to the GCCF false earnings statements which incorrectly indicated that she was employed by a seafood restaurant.
In response to the claim, the GCCF paid HOUSTON $5,900. U.S. Attorney Dana Boente announced the sentencing, which was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier.
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 such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and the recent Gulf oil spill.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Chandra Menon prosecuted HOUSTON. If you have knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, you 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.
HOUSTON was also ordered to pay BP America restitution in the amount of $5,900. The sentencing serves as a reminder that those who attempt to exploit disaster relief funds will be held accountable for their actions.
The investigation and prosecution of HOUSTON’s case is a testament to the dedication of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in protecting the public from financial crimes and ensuring that those who commit them are brought to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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