GULFPORT
Kenner residents Jerome and Catherine Foreman have been found guilty of Katrina fraud after a four-day trial.
The Foremans received a $150,000 homeowner assistance grant through the Mississippi Development Authority by claiming a Diamondhead home they owned as their primary residence, federal prosecutors said, although they did not live there.
Also, prosecutors said, Jerome Foreman filed a valid FEMA assistance claim on a Kenner, La., home that was his primary residence, then defrauded FEMA by collecting $6,706 in disaster assistance on the Diamondhead house.
Jerome Foreman was found guilty on two counts of making false statements, one count of making a false claim, and one count of theft against the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He was also found guilty of one count of making a false statement and one count of theft against MDA. Catherine Foreman was found guilty of theft against MDA.
The Foremans are scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 28 by U.S. District Judge Halil S. Ozerden. Each faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.
HUD and the state Auditor’s Office investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. attorneys Ruth Morgan, Kiana Foster, and Alyssa Farrell.
Anyone with information concerning possible fraud during Katrina recovery can call either the Department of Homeland Security Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or the FBI Fraud Hotline at 1-800-225-5324.
