Eight More Indicted in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Federal FEMA Fraud Charges

19 February 2006

United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced today that a federal grand jury returned indictments against eight more Louisiana residents on federal FEMA fraud charges.

Ronald A. Guidry, 32, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was charged in a two-count indictment with making false and fraudulent claims for disaster assistance benefits and with making false and fraudulent statements to FEMA. The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If convicted, Guidry faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine per count.

Betty Faye London, 52, of Wilson, Louisiana, was charged in a two-count indictment with making false and fraudulent claims for disaster assistance benefits and with making false and fraudulent statements to FEMA. The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If convicted, London faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine per count.

Bobby J. Weatherton, 48, of Prairieville, Louisiana, was charged in a two-count indictment with making false and fraudulent claims for disaster assistance benefits and with making false and fraudulent statements to FEMA. The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If convicted, Weatherton faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine per count.

Tarsha Johnson, 26, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was charged in a three-count indictment with making false and fraudulent claims for disaster assistance benefits, making false and fraudulent statements to FEMA, and illegal use of a Social Security number. The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Secret Service; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General; the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office. If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine per count.

Quincy Langley, 28, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was charged in a three-count indictment with making false and fraudulent claims for disaster assistance benefits, making false and fraudulent statements to FEMA, and illegal use of a Social Security number. The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Secret Service; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General; the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office. If convicted, Langley faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine per count.

Josette Williams, 28, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was charged in a two-count indictment with making false and fraudulent claims for disaster assistance benefits and with making false and fraudulent statements to FEMA. The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Secret Service; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Louisiana State Police. If convicted, Williams faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine per count.

Letonya Allen Patin, 34, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was charged in a five-count indictment with making false and fraudulent claims for disaster assistance benefits, making false and fraudulent statements to FEMA, and illegal use of a Social Security number. The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Secret Service; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General; the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office. If convicted, Patin faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine per count.

Gregory Patin, 26, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was charged in a five-count indictment with making false and fraudulent claims for disaster assistance benefits, making false and fraudulent statements to FEMA, and illegal use of a Social Security number. The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Secret Service; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General; the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office. If convicted, Patin faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine per count.

These individuals bring the total number of defendants who have been charged in the Middle District of Louisiana with violations related to FEMA relief funds to thirty-four.

In September 2005, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales created the 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 Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division-includes members from the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission, the Postal Inspector's Office, and the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, among others.

For further information, contact David R. Dugas, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana, or Lyman Thornton, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, at 225-389-0443.

NOTE: An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by the defendant. The defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until and unless she is proven guilty at trial.

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