Hammond Man Charged for Defrauding American Red Cross

NEW ORLEANS, LA—MARVIN HARRISON, age 34, a resident of Hammond, Louisiana, was charged today in a one-count bill of information for wire fraud relating to fraudulent applications he made to the American Red Cross for financial assistance during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to bill, 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. It is alleged that on three (3) occasions between September 15, 2005 and October 5, 2005, HARRISON applied for and received disaster assistance funds from the Red Cross, each time representing that he had not received assistance in the past. Based on the fraudulent applications, HARRISON obtained $2,230.00 from the American Red Cross that he was not entitled to.

If convicted, HARRISON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a $250,000 fine, and three (3) years supervised release following imprisonment.

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 was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Spiro Latsis.