Summary of the FEMA Fraud Case:
This article details the charges against three individuals – two from Los Angeles and one from Louisiana – for fraudulently obtaining over $40,000 in FEMA disaster assistance intended for victims of the January 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires. they falsely claimed residency in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades to submit fraudulent applications.
Here’s a breakdown of each defendant’s case:
* Jerry Lee Clay jr. (Los Angeles):
* Charges: One count of procuring/offering a false instrument, one count of grand theft, two counts of unauthorized use of personal identifying facts.
* Amount Stolen: $14,919.30
* Details: Used a false Pacific Palisades address and nonexistent apartment number. impersonated landlords.
* Status: Pleaded not guilty, released on $50,000 bond. Preliminary hearing Sept. 30. Potential sentence: 4 years and 4 months.
* Matthew Garnet O’Brien (Los Angeles):
* Charges: One count of offering a forged/false instrument, one count of grand theft.
* Amount Stolen: $12,314.52
* Details: Used a false Altadena address.
* Status: Surrendered to law enforcement,released on own recognizance. arraignment Nov. 25.Potential sentence: 3 years.
* Maricka Marie Gilmore (Louisiana):
* Charges: One count of procuring/offering a false instrument,one count of grand theft.
* Amount Stolen: $14,153.67
* Details: Used a false Pacific Palisades address and nonexistent apartment number.
* Status: Extradited from Louisiana, held on $50,000 bail. Arraignment today. Potential sentence: 3 years.
Key takeaways:
* Strong Statement from DA: Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman emphasized the seriousness of stealing from disaster victims and vowed to prosecute FEMA fraud aggressively.
* Cyber Crime division Involvement: The DA’s Cyber Crime Division is actively involved in the investigation.
* Ongoing Investigation: The cases are still under investigation.
* Presumption of Innocence: The article explicitly states that the charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
