Gibson Woman Charged with Defrauding American Red Cross

SANDRA D. WILLIAMS, age 45, a resident of Gibson, LA, was charged with mail fraud today in a one-count bill of information relating to fraudulent applications she made to the American Red Cross for financial assistance during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to the bill of information, the American Red Cross made disaster assistance money of up to $1,565 available to those affected by the hurricanes of 2005 on a one-time only basis. Documents show that on twelve (12) occasions between September 2005 and October 2005, WILLIAMS applied for and received disaster assistance funds from the Red Cross. The documents show that WILLIAMS intentionally violated the Red Cross’s one-time only policy by continuing to apply for these funds, and representing that she had not received assistance in the past. The bill of information alleges that WILLIAMS fraudulently applied for $10,955 in funds from the American Red Cross and ultimately received a total of $9,390 that she was not entitled to.

If convicted, WILLIAMS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a $250,0000 fine, restitution to the American Red Cross, and three years of supervised release following imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

U.S. Attorney Letten reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharan E. Lieberman.