The aftermath behind the slow federal response to Hurricane Katrina victims was more than enough to have showbiz bigwigs from Brad Pitt to Oprah digging in their deep pockets to lend a helping hand.
Unfortunately, four people found a way to take advantage of “Oprah’s Angel Network” charity, in which, the daytime television mogul bought new homes for evacuees to reside. The four suspects have been charged with wrongfully obtaining federal rental assistance after purchasing a home built by Oprah’s network.
Darlene McGruder Poole, 30, of Houston, and her sister, Lashona McGruder Victor, 37, of La Place, La., are charged together with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Houston.
Kiesha Murphy, 34, of Houston, and Angela Payne, aka Angela McKinnies, 38, of Houston, are charged separately with theft of government property and making false statements to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
In a partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Oprah’s charity build and furnished homes for approximately 65 families who had been displaced and forced to relocate to Houston, Texas, as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita’s irreparable damage.
“The response to natural disasters brings out the best and worst in people,” U.S. Attorney Tim Johnson said in a statement. “Generous acts of charity are tarnished by those who despite the generosity of others, fraudulently make claims for government relief funds.”
One alleges Poole submitted declarations of need for continued rental assistance after her August 2006 purchase of an Angel Lane home. Victor, meanwhile, registered with FEMA as Poole’s landlord and submitted fraudulent lease agreements and rental receipts, prosecutors charge.
Murphy and Payne are are charged with two indictments of submitting fraudulent claims for rental assistance after buying Angel Lane homes in July 2006.
Victor and Poole face up to $250,00-0 in fines and face up to 20 years in prison in convicted. Murphy and Payne, on the other hand, each face up to five years in prison for false statement charges and up to 10 years imprisonment for theft of government property and a $250,000 if convicted.
