Three individuals, aged 36 to 55, were arrested for allegedly defrauding federal disaster relief funds intended for victims of California's January wildfires. Federal authorities revealed that they faced serious charges which could lead to 30 years in prison. The suspects submitted false claims to FEMA, depriving legitimate wildfire victims of crucial financial support. For instance, one claimed funds for a property he didn’t own; another received $25,000 for a property she had no connection to. This deceit not only lined their pockets but also compounded the hardship faced by real victims of the disasters.
No victim of a disaster should ever have to go through this troubling experience of secondary victimization, McNally said.
The Lakewood resident filed a claim for a Pacific Palisades property that she did not own, rent or reside in and received nearly $25,000 in benefits.
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