Honolulu Man Sentenced to Prison as Trump Administration and FEMA Intensify Crackdown on Disaster Assistance Fraud

Anyone who defrauds American taxpayers will face the consequences

WASHINGTON - On June 5, 2026, a Honolulu, Hawaii man was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with false claims he submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to seek disaster relief related to the Lahaina and Pacific Palisades wildfire disasters. The man was also ordered to pay $60,458 in restitution to FEMA.

The Trump Administration is taking aggressive action to root out fraud and protect taxpayer dollars, ensuring disaster assistance reaches only those who truly need it. As part of this commitment, FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are working with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and federal and local partners to investigate fraud and hold offenders accountable.

"Under the leadership of President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Secretary Mullin, FEMA is taking swift action against fraud to safeguard taxpayer dollars," said FEMA's Associate Administrator of External Affairs, Victoria Barton. "By continually strengthening our controls and supporting the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we are ensuring disaster assistance reaches those in genuine need. We remain committed to identifying those who attempt to defraud survivors and working with our law enforcement partners to hold them accountable."

Taking funds meant for disaster survivors is a serious crime. In Fiscal Year 2025, FEMA investigated over 1,700 fraud cases. FEMA refers suspected fraud in its Individual Assistance program to the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) and other law enforcement partners for investigation and potential prosecution, including cases involving organized criminal activity.

President Trump's Executive Order 14395 established the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, bringing together federal agencies to coordinate a national strategy to stop fraud, waste and abuse in federal benefit programs. FEMA is fully engaged in strengthening eligibility verification, enhancing pre-payment controls and ensuring disaster assistance is delivered quickly and securely to eligible survivors.

If you suspect fraud, report it to the DHS Office of Inspector General at https://www.oig.dhs.gov/hotline or FEMA's Fraud Investigations and Inspections Division at [email protected].