Woman Charged with Defrauding the American Red Cross in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
| U.S. Attorney’s Office February 19, 2010 |
NEW ORLEANS, LA—QUIANA SELDERS, a/k/a Quiana Bridges, a/k/a Quiana Bridges-Selders, age 35, a resident of Hammond, Louisiana, was charged in a one count bill of information with wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the bill, the Red Cross made disaster assistance funds of up to $1,565 available to those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 on a one-time-only basis. It is alleged that SELDERS fraudulently applied for disaster assistance funds from the American Red Cross on six (6) separate occasions between September and October 2005. In all, according to the bill of information, SELDERS fraudulently obtained $7,590 from the American Red Cross.
IF convicted, the defendant faces a possible maximum penalty of twenty (20) years’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
U.S. Attorney Jim 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 investigated by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Chester.