U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

100 W. Capitol Street
Suite 1553
Jackson, Mississippi 39269

FBI JACKSON, PUBLIC AFFAIRS
(601) 948-5000

For Immediate Release
December 14, 2006

JACKSON RESIDENT ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED FEMA FRAUD

FBI Agents arrested LATOYA Q. MITCHELL, age 30, of Jackson, Mississippi, today on charges stemming from her 2005 submission of a false claim for disaster assistance to the United States for damages caused to her primary residence and personal belongings as a result of Hurricane Katrina. MITCHELL was arrested pursuant to a five-count indictment, filed December 6, 2006, which charges that she, aided and abetted by others, made a claim against the United States, based upon false and fraudulent material statements or representations, that her apartment and personal belongings located therein sustained damages as a result of Hurricane Katrina, when the damages allegedly occurred prior to the hurricane. In addition, the indictment charges that MITCHELL made a false and fraudulent material statement or representation through oral statements she made to Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of the Investigation, in violation of Title 18, Sections 1001 and 2, United States Code. The indictment also charges MITCHELL with wire fraud, embezzlement, and fraud against the United States government.

MITCHELL appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Linda Anderson Thursday, December 14, 2006, at 3:00 p.m. for her initial appearance. MITCHELL was released pending trial which is scheduled for February 6, 2007. If convicted of all charges against her, MITCHELL faces up to 45 years imprisonment and/or up to $250,000 for each count of the indictment.
John G. Raucci, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi, and Dunn Lampton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, stressed that the charges upon which the indictment and arrest of MITCHELL are premised are accusations only and there is a presumption of innocence prior to any judicial proceeding.

If anyone has information concerning possible fraud being committed during the post-Katrina recovery effort, please call either the DHS-OIG Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or the FBI Fraud Hotline at 1-800-225-5324.