Press Releases
BROTHERS INDICTED FOR HURRICANE KATRINA RELATEDFEMA FRAUD
March 13, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JOVAUGHN A. RISIN, age 23, a resident of Laplace, Louisiana, and QUINN P. RISIN, age 25, a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, were charged today in a one-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury for Katrina related mail fraud, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the indictment, following Hurricane Katrina, JOVAUGH RISIN and QUINN RISIN each applied for FEMA disaster relief claiming their primary residence was on Ursulines Avenue in New Orleans and that the storm caused damage to their personal property. It is alleged that based on these fraudulent claims, FEMA provided funds in response to the brothers’ claims that they needed disaster related assistance. It is further alleged that the subject property was owned by another person and not occupied or rented at the time of the storm.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of $250,000 and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Julia K. Evans.
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