The two are alleged to have made false statements to obtain $750,000 in disaster relief
.jpg)
Two people from New York have been charged with fraud on allegations that they made false statements to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to obtain disaster relief following Hurricane Sandy.
As a result of the fraud, defendants Nagwa Elsilimy and Ahmed Arafa are alleged to have obtained over $750,000 in disaster relief from New York City’s Build It Back program and FEMA, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Authorities say that after the hurricane struck New York in October 2012, the defendants submitted disaster-relief applications that contained false information to obtain federal funds allotted for Sandy victims. The defendants falsely claimed that a home they had abandoned before the hurricane was their primary residence when Sandy struck.
An investigation obtained evidence suggesting that the defendants had been living at various addresses since at least March 2012. Additionally, it found that the home claimed to be the primary residence of the defendants during the hurricane was vacant when Sandy struck and had been vacant for at least seven months.
The charges carry a statutory maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment for major disaster relief fraud and five years’ imprisonment for making false statements to a federal agency.
“Taking advantage of funds intended for disaster relief misappropriates taxpayer dollars, reduces monies available to true victims and erodes public confidence in relief programs,” said Bridget Rohde, acting US attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “This office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out such alleged illegal behavior.”
Related stories:
Scammers already preying on homeowners impacted by Harvey
HUD grants foreclosure relief to 200,000 Harvey victims
As a result of the fraud, defendants Nagwa Elsilimy and Ahmed Arafa are alleged to have obtained over $750,000 in disaster relief from New York City’s Build It Back program and FEMA, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Authorities say that after the hurricane struck New York in October 2012, the defendants submitted disaster-relief applications that contained false information to obtain federal funds allotted for Sandy victims. The defendants falsely claimed that a home they had abandoned before the hurricane was their primary residence when Sandy struck.
An investigation obtained evidence suggesting that the defendants had been living at various addresses since at least March 2012. Additionally, it found that the home claimed to be the primary residence of the defendants during the hurricane was vacant when Sandy struck and had been vacant for at least seven months.
The charges carry a statutory maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment for major disaster relief fraud and five years’ imprisonment for making false statements to a federal agency.
“Taking advantage of funds intended for disaster relief misappropriates taxpayer dollars, reduces monies available to true victims and erodes public confidence in relief programs,” said Bridget Rohde, acting US attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “This office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out such alleged illegal behavior.”
Related stories:
Scammers already preying on homeowners impacted by Harvey
HUD grants foreclosure relief to 200,000 Harvey victims
