Nine S. Floridians Charged for Making False Claims to FEMA

Nine Broward County residents have been charged in Fort Lauderdale with defrauding the Federal Emergency Assistance Agency by obtaining disaster relief after Hurricane Frances made landfall last year almost 100 miles away. The claims were filed after Francis made landfall on Sept. 5, 2004, near Sewall’s Point in Martin County.

According to the Fort Lauderdale News and Sun Sentinel, arrested on the federal charges were Siandra Lekitia Elick, Jiquana S. Heath, Maryse Dubuisson, Felicia Benita Johnson, Themecia Maria Couch, Lakrisha Rumore Ayden, Tamela Humes, Chenita Arnella Wiggins, and Valerie Rodney.

Each was indicted in Broward County on one count of making false claims to FEMA. If convicted as charged, the defendants face maximum statutory penalties of five years in federal prison.

The indictments allege that each defendant falsely represented to FEMA they had sustained personal property damage during Frances. Based on the claims, FEMA said it paid: Elick, $7,832.16; Heath, $10,782.29; Dubuisson, $6,293.03; Johnson, $9,476.07; Couch, $3,224.41; Ayden, $10,234.07; Humes, $11,109.23; Wiggins, $7,077.02; and Rodney, $7,301.09.