EXCLUSIVE: Woman who stole $1.7M meant for hurricane victims gets prison time as DHS cracks down on FEMA fraud

FIRST ON FOX: A Pennsylvania pistillate who defrauded the national authorities retired of $1.7 cardinal successful Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds successful the aftermath of Hurricane Ida was sentenced to 5 years successful prison, the Justice Department said Wednesday, arsenic the Trump medication continues its effort to ace down connected fraud.

Jasmine Williams, 34, of Plymouth Meeting, pleaded blameworthy past twelvemonth to 32 charges ranging from fraud related to a large catastrophe declaration to ligament fraud and message fraud.

"Under the enactment of President [Donald] Trump and Secretary [Markwayne] Mullin, FEMA is rooting retired fraud successful catastrophe aid," Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis exclusively told Fox News Digital.

"We are protecting payer dollars and making definite catastrophe assistance goes to those who genuinely request it," Bis continued. "Anyone who tries to bargain from survivors volition beryllium caught and held accountable."

MINNESOTA OF THE CARIBBEAN? TRUMP ADMIN FREEZES VACATION HOTSPOT’S FUNDS OVER ALLEGED HURRICANE-AID ABUSES

Blue tarp stamped with the FEMA logo covers the extortion of a location much than a week aft Hurricane Irma made landfall. A Pennsylvania pistillate was sentenced to 5 years successful prisons for defrauding FEMA successful the aftermath of the storm. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Then-President Joe Biden issued a catastrophe declaration successful September 2021 aft the remnants of Hurricane Ida struck overmuch of the eastbound information of the state.

Officials said Williams solicited participants successful her strategy — renters, homeowners oregon the stateless — and submitted fraudulent documents to FEMA connected behalf of astir 200 others, including fraudulent leases, letters from landlords, inferior bills, earning statements, and location repair estimates.

She recruited the participants implicit societal media, advertizing that she could assistance them successful applying for FEMA benefits, prosecutors said.  

TRUMP SAYS ANTI-FRAUD EFFORTS ARE UNCOVERING BILLIONS IN WASTE, CLAIMS SAVINGS COULD BALANCE BUDGET

President Joe Biden speaks during a virtual Hurricane Ida briefing astatine the White House successful Washington, D.C., connected Monday, Aug. 30, 2021. Biden vowed to proceed providing national enactment aft Hurricane Ida made landfall southbound of New Orleans and near much than a cardinal homes and businesses without power. (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

As portion of the fraud, she requested fractional of the payout for herself, amassing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

When 1 idiosyncratic progressive successful the strategy didn’t wage her, Williams posted that person's idiosyncratic accusation connected societal media, officials said.

She besides posted a video criticizing the idiosyncratic for not paying the 50% Williams charged.

Williams additionally utilized societal media to solicit images of damaged homes to taxable successful enactment of her fraudulent applications, national prosecutors said.

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In fiscal twelvemonth 2025, FEMA identified much than 1,700 fraud cases.

Williams' condemnation came arsenic the Trump medication has prioritized combating fraud and waste.