A woman from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to five years in prison for orchestrating a fraud scheme that defrauded federal disaster relief funds after Hurricane Ida. Jasmine Williams, aged 34, was convicted of multiple charges and sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge, according to federal prosecutors.
Williams was involved in a scheme that siphoned nearly $1.75 million in federal disaster aid following the hurricane’s devastation in 2021. She pleaded guilty to 32 federal charges, including one count of fraud related to a major disaster declaration, 24 counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of mail fraud. The guilty plea came in September 2024, after she was charged in April.
The fraudulent activities began shortly after President Joseph R. Biden declared a major disaster for parts of eastern Pennsylvania, enabling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide financial assistance to residents affected by the disaster. Williams utilized social media platforms to recruit individuals, claiming she could help them secure FEMA benefits.
Court documents reveal that Williams targeted a range of individuals, including renters, homeowners, and even those experiencing homelessness. She submitted fraudulent applications on their behalf, employing a variety of deceptive tactics. These included fake leases, forged letters from landlords, falsified utility bills, and fabricated earnings statements. In return for her services, she demanded half of any FEMA payout.
Prosecutors detailed that Williams employed intimidation tactics to ensure payment from her clients. This included publicly disclosing personal information and posting videos on social media that aimed to shame individuals who refused to comply with her demands.
As part of the scheme, Williams also solicited photographs of damaged properties online, which she then submitted to FEMA as supporting evidence for her fraudulent claims. The court found that between October 2021 and March 2023, FEMA disbursed $1,744,982.64 in disaster assistance based on the false representations made by Williams.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, with assistance from FEMA’s Fraud Prevention and Investigations unit. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ruth Mandelbaum and S. Chandler Harris. U.S. Attorney David Metcalf characterized the case as a significant instance of disaster fraud that exploited federal resources intended for genuine storm victims.
This sentencing serves as a reminder of the serious consequences that can arise from attempting to defraud government aid programs.
