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Three, two Southern California residents and a Texas woman, falsely alleged that their property was destroyed in a January wildfire in Los Angeles, and that they received tens of thousands of dollars, federal prosecutors said they had issued federal charges against them on Wednesday.
Of the three defendants, Tyrone Burns of Paramount was arrested Tuesday.
Authorities recognized Burns’s alleged conduct when they learned that the true owner of the property had contacted FEMA and that the 38-year-old had already filed a disaster relief fund application related to the property.
“Disaster victims don’t need to go through this troublesome experience of secondary damage,” McNally said.
Another Southern California resident charged with fraud was identified as Hedesia Robertson. The 36-year-old from Lakewood received approximately $24,899 in FEMA benefits after filing a fraudulent application to a damaged Palisade home she doesn’t own, rent or live in, in the Pacific.
When Robertson was arrested Tuesday, she was allegedly trying to get additional FEMA funds for her San Francisco property.
“() Two lawsuits alleged that the defendant received funds for payment based on a false claim for personal property damage, lost vehicles, medical and transfer costs,” explained McNally.
The Texan woman, 55-year-old Joyce Turner, did not live in Altadena and was not nearby Southern California when she filed a fraudulent application, alleged her home was destroyed by Eton Fire, investigators said.
She is said to have received more than $25,000 after she forged a lease of Altadena’s property.
During the investigation, investigators discovered that Turner had tried to secure FEMA funds for other disasters, including Hurricane Katrina, on 10 separate occasions.
“If you misuse disasters in our community and benefit from efforts to help members of the community who are struggling when they rebuild their lives, we will investigate you, we will find you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.
For Eaton and Palisades fires, FEMA provided a one-time $750 payment of up to $43,600 for “other needs” assistance and housing assistance for up to 18 months. Homeowners may also be eligible for additional relief up to $43,600 for home repairs, the U.S. Attorneys’ Office said.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security inspector and the El Camino Real Financial Crime Task Force.
The three defendants face up to 30 years in federal prisons.
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