A Montgomery County woman, Jasmine Williams, 33, has been arrested and charged with defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of over $1.5 million in Hurricane Ida disaster benefits.
United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced the charges against Williams, which include one count of fraud related to a major disaster declaration, 24 counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of mail fraud.
Following President Joe Biden’s major disaster declaration in September 2021 for parts of eastern Pennsylvania affected by Hurricane Ida, FEMA offered financial aid to affected residents.
The indictment alleges that Williams used social media to recruit individuals, promising assistance with FEMA benefit applications. She then allegedly submitted fraudulent documents to FEMA on behalf of multiple individuals, including fake leases, landlord letters, utility bills, income statements, and repair estimates.
In exchange for her services, Williams reportedly received half of the fraudulent payouts. FEMA ultimately disbursed over $1.5 million in assistance based on Williams’ false representations. If convicted, Williams could face a maximum sentence of 960 years in prison.