Alabama Man Pleads Guilty in Tornado Fraud Case
A west Alabama man has pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming disaster benefits following the April 27 tornadoes in Alabama.
Officials say 47-year-old Robert Lee Spires entered his plea before U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler to two counts of attempted wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 8.
Prosecutors say Spires received $1,114 for rental assistance and $471 for personal property assistance from FEMA after falsely claiming that he was renting a house in Tuscaloosa when it was damaged by a tornado. He was not eligible for the assistance because he did not live at that address and did not own any property there.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Popular Today
- AI Savings Misses ‘Should Be Making Executives Uncomfortable,’ Bain Says
- Acrisure Goes After Former Owners of Businesses it Acquired for Leaving to Compete
- USI Insurance Services Claims Ex-Broker Poached Clients for Own New Agency
- Kim and Allen Lead Voting in California Insurance Commissioner Primary