Five people were arrested on suspicion of filing false claims, saying their property is January Los Angeles Wildfirethe Justice Department announced Friday.
The Justice Department said the defendants who had no relationship with each other were able to fraudulently collect thousands of dollars in federal disaster relief funds from the Federal Emergency Administration. They are charged with fraud related to major disasters or emergency benefits, and they face up to 30 years in federal prisons.
Four of the five accused were from Los Angeles County, who were arrested Thursday. One defendant is from Arizona and has been detained in state custody when he was indicted.
So far, FEMA has More than $123.6 million allocated 33,817 people were affected by warnings from officials The most expensive disaster in modern history. There is no need to repay FEMA grants and can be used to cover rental assistance, temporary housing, home repairs, property damage and other disaster-related needs without being covered by insurance.
Authorities say Deanniah Hogan, 32, of Compton, filed a claim in January to report the loss of the Pacific Palisades home that she allegedly rented. She earned $17,351 from FEMA. The real owner of the house later confirmed to law enforcement that the property was not rented out. Hogan was released on $10,000 bond after his first court appearance on Thursday. Her arraignment is scheduled to take place on May 20.
Authorities say Delvonne Dashon Johnson, 31, of East Hollywood, filed a claim for a Pacific Palisades home owned by another, and she told law enforcement she did not know Johnson and she had never rented the property. The agency sent about $64,138 in federal relief funds to Johnson based on his fraudulent February claim. When the real homeowner filed a claim later, she told authorities that FEMA informed her that others had filed a claim against her property. Johnson was scheduled to appear in court for his first time on Friday.
Keandre Lowe, 21, of Long Beach, allegedly claimed to be renting a home in Altadena that was damaged in the fire. Authorities say the real homeowners have lived there since 2007 and say they have never rented the property. Lowe received $28,286 from FEMA after filing a fraudulent claim in January. Lowe was released on $10,000 bond after appearing on Thursday, and his arraignment is scheduled to take place on May 27.
Zenalyn McIntre, 38, of Sherman Oaks, has been charged with filing documents to enhance fraudulent claims, including her California driver's license (listing the Sherman Oaks address), and gas utility that authorities say appears to be a fake. McGinter allegedly claimed in January that she was renting a Pacific Palisades home that was destroyed by a fire and received $25,229 in relief funds. McKinn was specific for his first court appearance on Friday.
Authorities say a defendant, Katrina Woods, 33, of Maricopa, Arizona, listed in her fraudulent nature, claiming that the address at Altadena did not exist and was said to have been destroyed as her primary residence. FEMA gave Woods $23,441, which excludes the fees for two hotels in downtown Los Angeles and the agency she booked through the agency. Woods was detained in state custody on an unrelated issue as of Wednesday and is expected to make her first appearance in federal court in the coming weeks.
Others have been arrested and charged with fraud for similar claims involving fires that authorities say were false.
Hedeshia Robertson, 36, plans to plead guilty to fraud on May 2, involving fraud related to major disasters or emergency benefits, after fraud received about $24,899 from the FEMA. Jaime Arturo Carrillo, 48, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one charge for the same charge as FEMA granted him transitional shelter aid, totaling more than $2,000.
