Press Releases
THIBODAUX WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO HURRICANE KATRINA RELATED FEMA FRAUD
November 29, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LINDA SOUTHALL, age 49, a resident of Thibodaux, Louisiana, plead guilty yesterday before U. S. District Court Judge Helen G. Berrigan to a one-count Indictment charging her with theft of government funds, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
SOUTHALL faces a possible sentence term of ten (10) years imprisonment; a $250,000 fine, plus a period of supervised release up to three years and a $100 special assessment. Sentencing is scheduled for March 5, 2008 at 9:00 A.M.
According to court documents, on September 5, 2005, SOUTHALL filed claims for FEMA benefits stating that her automobile and personal property were damaged as a result of Hurricane Katrina. On September 26, 2005, FEMA sent SOUTHALL a direct deposit check in the amount of $500 for transportation assistance and $576.83 for personal property. On November 11, 2005, SOUTHALL appealed the transportation award and received on or about January 31, 2006, a supplemental FEMA payment of $1,300 via direct deposit for a total award of $2,376.82. Defendant subsequently used the FEMA award of $2,376. 82 for her own use.
On two occasions, SOUTHALL was interviewed by Special Agents of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General regarding her FEMA claims. SOUTHALL admitted that she did not sustain any damage to her automobile or personal property and that she was not entitled to FEMA benefits.
The case was investigated by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney Julia K. Evans.
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