JACKSON- Brent Warr, Mayor of Gulfport, and wife Laura Jean Warr were indicted by a federal Grand Jury for Hurricane Katrina related fraud on a sixteen count indictment alleging the Warr’s conspired to defraud the United States, filed a false claim for disaster assistance, made false statements to FEMA, stole government funds and committed insurance fraud following a joint investigation by the State Auditor’s Katrina Fraud Task Force, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the OIG-Housing and Urban Development.

The indictment alleges that the Warr’s made a false statement to the Mississippi Development Authority for a HUD funded home grant and committed mail fraud in obtaining funds from Lexington Insurance Company.

If convicted of each count, potentially the Warr’s each face up to 210 years imprisonment and up to $4 million in fines. The defendants were released on bond and ordered to appear at trial on April 6, 2009.

“Since being sworn in January 10, 2008, our office was received 23 indictments for Katrina-related fraud in state and federal court,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. “We appreciate the joint effort by the United States Attorney, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Housing and Urban Development as we continue to investigate allegations of Katrina fraud and hold citizens of Mississippi accountable.”

“The devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina will not ever be forgotten by Mississippians and those around the world. As with any proven government fraud, no one is above the law, and I am committed to assisting in the prosecution of those convicted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Pickering.

All defendants are innocent until proven guilty.

The Katrina Fraud Prevention and Detection Unit of the State Auditor’s Office is funded by a Community Development Block Grant received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development which passed through the Mississippi Development Authority.

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