Indianapolis Man Sentenced to 57 Months for Hurricane Katrina Fraud

INDIANAPOLIS, IA—Jimmy Alexander, 38, Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 57 months in prison today by U.S. District Chief Judge David F. Hamilton following his guilty plea to conspiracy to steal public money, announced Timothy M. Morrison, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. This case was the result of an 18-month investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In sentencing Alexander, Chief Judge Hamilton indicated that stealing from the victims of Hurricane Katrina is about as low as you can go. The Chief Judge also commented that Alexander’s criminal history was long and varied and that this sentence was needed to deter Alexander from future criminal conduct.

Prior to September 14, 2005, Jimmy Alexander and a co-conspirator, whose case is still pending, entered into an agreement to provide false documentation to FEMA indicating that he was living at 1013 St. Maurice Ave., New Orleans, LA, during Hurricane Katrina. In fact, he was not. This agreement was made for the purpose of gaining funds from the Hurricane Katrina Relief Program to which Alexander was not entitled. To that end, on or about September 14, 2005, a telephone application for FEMA relief benefits was submitted. The name on the application was Jimmy Alexander, with an impacted address of 1013 St. Maurice Ave., New Orleans, LA 70117-1459. The application stated that 1013 St. Maurice Ave. was Mr. Alexander’s primary residence, and that it was damaged in the storm. The application listed 212 N. Mickley Ave., Apt. A, Indianapolis, IN 46224 as a current address.

As a result of that application, FEMA issued an expedited housing assistance check in the amount of $2,000 in the name of Jimmy Alexander. The check was issued on September 15, 2005, and mailed to 212 N. Mickley Ave., Apt. A, Indianapolis, IN 46224. The check was endorsed and cashed on September 25, 2005, in Indianapolis.

On September 25, 2005, FEMA issued a check in the amount of $2,358 to Jimmy Alexander. The check was mailed to 212 N. Mickley Ave., Apt. A, Indianapolis, IN 46224. The check was endorsed and cashed on October 4, 2005, in Indianapolis.

On September 26, 2005, FEMA mailed a Form 90-69B Declaration and Release to Alexander at 212 N. Mickley Ave. Apt. A, in Indianapolis. The Declaration and Release is a document whereby the applicant declares that they are a United States citizen and eligible for relief. The cover letter also instructed Mr. Alexander that it was necessary for him to retain his rental receipts in order to obtain further rental assistance.

On or about November 7, 2005, Alexander and his co-conspirator submitted the Declaration and Release to FEMA. This Declaration and Release Form falsely stated that Alexander’s primary residence at the time of Hurricane Katrina was the Maurice Ave. address.

On November 18, 2005, FEMA issued a check in the amount of $10,391.51 to Alexander. The check was mailed to 212 N. Mickley Ave., Apt. A, Indianapolis, IN 46224. The check was cashed on November 28, 2005, at a National City Bank. It was later discovered that on the same date $5,391.51 was deposited into a National City Bank account belonging to Alexander.

On December 14, 2005, FEMA sent a form to Alexander requesting proof of ongoing rental expenses. On December 22, 2005, Alexander and his co-conspirator returned the completed form to FEMA. Attached to the form were a monthly rental agreement and monthly rental receipts alleging that Alexander was renting a residence located at 918 N. Oakland in Indianapolis for $600/month, despite him knowing this documentation was false.

On January 6, 2006, FEMA issued a check in the amount of $1,701 to Alexander at the Mickley Avenue address. The check was endorsed and cashed on January 9, 2006, at a National City Bank. Subsequent investigations revealed that on the same date $801.00 was deposited into Alexander’s account, and $900.00 was paid in cash. Alexander received a total of $22,450.51 as a result of his fraud.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley P. Shepard, who prosecuted the case for the government, Chief Judge Hamilton imposed three years supervised release following Alexander’s release from prison and ordered him to make $22.450.51 restitution to FEMA.

In September 2005, the Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force was created and designed to deter, investigate and prosecute disaster-related federal crimes such as charity fraud, identity theft, procurement fraud and insurance fraud. The Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force includes members from the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission, the Postal Inspector’s Office and the Executive Office of United States Attorneys, among others.

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