A Pennsylvania woman has been sentenced to five years in prison for defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of $1.7 million in disaster relief funds following Hurricane Ida. Jasmine Williams, 34, of Plymouth Meeting, pleaded guilty last year to 32 charges, including fraud related to a major disaster declaration, wire fraud, and mail fraud.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated that FEMA is actively working to identify and prosecute individuals who commit fraud against the agency. "We are protecting taxpayer dollars and making sure disaster assistance goes to those who truly need it," Bis said. "Anyone who tries to steal from survivors will be caught and held accountable."
President Joe Biden issued a disaster declaration for Pennsylvania in September 2021 after the remnants of Hurricane Ida impacted the eastern part of the state. Investigators found that Williams solicited participants, including renters, homeowners, and homeless individuals, to submit fraudulent documents to FEMA on their behalf. These documents included fabricated leases, landlord letters, utility bills, earning statements, and home repair estimates.
Williams recruited participants through social media, offering assistance with FEMA benefit applications. Prosecutors stated that she demanded half of the payout from each successful claim, accumulating hundreds of thousands of dollars. She also allegedly posted personal information on social media of individuals involved in the scheme who did not pay her the requested share, and she posted a video criticizing one individual for non-payment.
Federal prosecutors also reported that Williams used social media to solicit images of damaged homes to support her fraudulent applications. In fiscal year 2025, FEMA identified more than 1,700 fraud cases.