1,350 Katrina fraud probes under way

The Clarion-Ledger, 6/30/8

Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Mississippi nearly three years ago, there have been 300 federal indictments for related fraud in the state – and the number is expected to grow.

“We have 1,350 investigations still going,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dowdy, who heads the criminal division for the Southern District. “I do anticipate we will have a substantial amount of restitution.”

In most of the cases, people made false statements to obtain Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster assistance funds or other disaster assistance.