Press Releases
PONTCHATOULA WOMAN ADMITS TO DEFRAUDING AMERICAN RED CROSS
September 25, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ARTAMIE DUMAS, 30, a resident of Pontchatoula, LA, pled guilty today in federal court before U. S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to mail fraud relating to fraudulent applications to the American Red Cross for financial assistance, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the factual basis, the American 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. DUMAS admitted that on eight (8) separate occasions between September, 2005 and October, 2005, she applied for and received disaster assistance funds from the Red Cross. DUMAS further admitted that she intentionally violated this policy by continuing to apply for these funds, each time indicating that she had not yet received any money at all from the Red Cross. DUMAS admitted to fraudulently obtaining $9,340.00 from the American Red Cross.
Upon sentencing, which is scheduled for January 8, 2009, DUMAS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years and a $250,0000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspectors. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Dan Friel.
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