JACKSON- Following an investigation by the State Auditor’s Hurricane Katrina Fraud Prevention and Detection Unit, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Roger and Annette L. Williams, of Houston, TX, were indicted on 12 counts relating to Hurricane Katrina Fraud; pled guilty to four counts; and were sentenced on Tuesday in federal court.
Roger Williams pled guilty on Counts 9, 10 and 12 of the indictment and was sentenced to four months in prison, four months home confinement; supervised release of five years; 100 hours of community service; restitution of $91,890.16 and a $300 special assessment fee.
Annette Williams pled guilty on Counts 7, 9, 10 and 12 of the indictment and was sentenced to 24 months in prison; supervised release of five years; 100 hours of community service; restitution of $116,504.29 and a $400 special assessment fee. The Williams’ are jointly and severely liable for restitution.
The fraud was committed in Hancock County.
The charges relate to applications for FEMA Disaster Assistance funds on home repair, housing assistance and rental assistance. The charges also included false disaster assistance applications filed with the investigating entities. Investigators with the State Auditor’s Office investigated allegations relating to a grant application made through the Mississippi Development Authority. The residence listed on all applications was not the primary residence of Williams. Roger and Annette Williams owned the property in Bay St. Louis; however, the property was used as rental property and was rented at the time application was made for Katrina related assistance.
“Katrina fraud continues to be reported to agents in the State Auditor’s Hurricane Katrina Fraud Prevention and Detection Unit,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. “We currently have 302 active Katrina cases, and I appreciate the joint effort by federal officials and other state and local agencies in rectifying cases involving Katrina related fraud.”
The State Auditor’s Katrina Fraud Prevention and Detection United is funded by a CDBG grant from HUD received by the State Auditor’s Office through the Mississippi Development Authority.
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