Press Releases
HAMMOND WOMAN CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING AMERICAN RED CROSS
March 7, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DEBRA A. McGOWAN, age 43, a resident of Hammond, LA, was indicted by the Federal Grand Jury today on three counts of Mail Fraud relating to a series of fraudulent applications for financial assistance that she submitted to the American Red Cross between September 15, 2005 and October 25, 2005, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to court documents, DEBRA A. McGOWAN, applied for and received disaster assistance funds from the Red Cross 7 times during a roughly five week period. The Red Cross made disaster assistance money of up to $1565 available to those affected by the hurricanes of 2005 on a one-time only basis. McGOWAN repeatedly applied for these funds throughout the early fall of 2005, each time indicating that she had not yet received any money at all from the Red Cross. In all, McGOWAN fraudulently obtained $9090.00 from the American Red Cross.
If convicted, DEBRA McGOWAN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years and is subject to a fine of up to $250,000.
The United States Attorney cautions that an Indictment is only an allegation and is not proof beyond a reasonable doubt and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service Inspectors and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Dan Friel.
)
