EMPIRE, LA – Tony Riley, 48, of Empire, Louisiana, is facing serious federal charges after allegedly ripping off the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) and the Deepwater Horizon Economic Claims Center (DHECC) for over $221,000. The indictment, handed down Friday, accuses Riley of fabricating claims of lost income stemming from his seafood business in the wake of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.
According to court documents, Riley submitted falsified paperwork, attempting to convince the claims centers he’d suffered significant financial losses due to the oil spill. The GCCF and DHECC were established to compensate individuals and businesses impacted by the catastrophic event, but Riley allegedly exploited the system for personal gain. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana isn’t buying it.
The alleged scheme netted Riley a cool $221,681.62 – money he wasn’t entitled to, prosecutors say. The Secret Service New Orleans Field Office spearheaded the investigation, digging into Riley’s claims and uncovering the alleged fraud. The agency’s work highlights a continued effort to root out those who attempted to profit from the disaster, even years after the fact.
If convicted of mail fraud, Riley is looking at a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars. He also faces a potential fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release following his prison term. While the indictment represents a significant step forward in the case, Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans stressed that Riley is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Payne is leading the prosecution, and will be tasked with building a case that proves Riley knowingly submitted false information to the claims centers. The Department of Justice hasn’t released details on when the trial will begin, but the case is expected to move forward swiftly given the clear financial trail and alleged falsified documentation.
This isn’t simply a case of paperwork errors; it’s a deliberate attempt to defraud a system designed to help those genuinely harmed by the Deepwater Horizon explosion. The Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are sending a clear message: exploiting disaster relief funds will be met with the full force of the law. The Eastern District of Louisiana will prosecute this case to the fullest extent.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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