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Jacksonville Woman Charged With FEMA Benefit Fraud Involving Hurricane Irma

Publication date: 
Friday, November 13, 2020

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Roshell Marvita Hoover (37, Jacksonville) with disaster assistance fraud involving Hurricane Irma. If convicted, Hoover faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison, plus payment of restitution to the United States. Hoover was arrested on November 9, 2020.

According to the indictment, between September 2017 and July 2018, Hoover falsified records when submitting her application for disaster assistance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individuals and Households Program for Hurricane Irma. In her application to FEMA, Hoover falsely claimed that due to storm damage caused by Hurricane Irma, she could no longer live at her primary residence in Jacksonville and requested rental assistance (money) to purportedly help pay for rent at a new residence. In support of her disaster assistance application Hoover submitted falsified records to FEMA, including rental property documents and rental payment receipts.  

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has violated one or more of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.           

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

Additional Details
URL
Component
USAO - Florida, Middle;Office of the Inspector General;
OIG
Department of Homeland Security OIG