Pennsylvania Woman 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 January 28, 2026, a Pennsylvania woman from Plymouth Meeting was sentenced to five years in prison for a scheme to defraud FEMA in the wake of Hurricane Ida. The woman pled guilty to 32 charges amounting to more than $1.7 million.

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 prioritizing a prevention-first strategy to safeguard taxpayer dollars," said FEMA's Associate Administrator of External Affairs, Victoria Barton. "By leveraging advanced data analytics, identity verification and fraud detection tools, FEMA aims to stop suspicious activity before relief funds are distributed. Our stance to hold offenders accountable is unyielding."

Taking funds meant for disaster survivors is a serious crime. In Fiscal Year 2025, FEMA investigated over 2,000 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].