Press Releases
JACKSON COUNTY WOMAN SENTENCED FOR KATRINA FRAUD
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GULFPORT, Miss. – Debra A. Savage of Gautier, Mississippi, was sentenced in federal
court on Wednesday, November 14, 2007, U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton and State Auditor Phil
Bryant announced today. Savage was ordered to serve 5 years of probation with 6 months of
home confinement, and to pay restitution in the amount of $17,181.69 to FEMA and $39,615.97
to the Mississippi Development Authority.
Savage filed for disaster benefits with FEMA, and for a home grant through the
Mississippi Development Authority on a rental property in Gautier, Mississippi, as her primary
residence. On September 4, 2007, Savage pled guilty to making a false claim to FEMA and
making a false statement to the Mississippi Development Authority regarding her primary
residence.
“I’m glad to see that justice has been served. As long as individuals try to take advantage
of the victims of Hurricane Katrina who are rebuilding, our fraud and detection unit will
continue to pursue them and recover as much stolen money as possible. I would like to thank the
U.S. Attorney’s Office for their prosecution of this case,” said State Auditor Phil Bryant.
In September, 2005, former Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales created the national
Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, designed to deter, investigate and prosecute disaster-related
federal crimes such as charity fraud, identity theft, procurement fraud and insurance fraud. The
Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force - chaired by Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal
Division, Alice S. Fisher, includes members from the Department of Homeland Security, FBI,
the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the Postal
Inspector’s Office and the Executive Office of United States Attorneys, among others.
Pursuant to the Justice Department initiative, a local Katrina Fraud Task Force,
consisting of over 20 Federal and State law enforcement agencies, was formed in the Southern
District of
Mississippi to pursue and prosecute individuals who engage in fraud associated with the
hurricanes. The Mississippi State Auditor Fraud Prevention and Protection Unit investigates
allegations of fraud in the Homeowner Grant Program as part of the local task force.
If anyone has information concerning possible fraud being committed during the post-
Katrina recovery effort, please call either the DHS-OIG Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or the
FBI Fraud Hotline at 1-800-225-5324.
