A woman from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to five years in prison following her involvement in a significant fraud scheme that defrauded the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) out of nearly $1.75 million in disaster aid related to Hurricane Ida. Jasmine Williams, 34, of Plymouth Meeting, received her sentence from U.S. District Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge after pleading guilty to a total of 32 federal charges associated with this extensive fraud operation.
Williams was charged in April 2024 with one count of fraud concerning a major disaster declaration, 24 counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of mail fraud. She entered her guilty pleas in September. The fraudulent activities began after President Joseph R. Biden declared a major disaster for portions of eastern Pennsylvania, which allowed FEMA to distribute aid to residents affected by the storm.
The court filings reveal that Williams used social media platforms to recruit individuals by promising assistance in obtaining FEMA benefits. She targeted a range of people, including renters, homeowners, and even homeless individuals. Williams submitted fraudulent applications on behalf of these individuals, utilizing fake leases, forged landlord letters, falsified utility bills, fabricated earnings statements, and bogus home repair estimates.
In exchange for her services, Williams demanded half of the FEMA payouts. Prosecutors indicated that she accumulated hundreds of thousands of dollars through this scheme and employed intimidation tactics to ensure compliance. This included publicly sharing a participant’s personal information and posting a lengthy video online that criticized the individual for refusing to pay her share.
To further substantiate her fraudulent claims, Williams solicited photographs of damaged homes online, which were then submitted to FEMA as part of her supporting documentation. The court determined 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 investigation into this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, with significant assistance from FEMA’s Fraud Prevention and Investigations team. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ruth Mandelbaum and S. Chandler Harris. U.S. Attorney David Metcalf remarked that this case exemplifies how disaster fraud can exploit federal aid intended for genuine storm victims.
Williams’ actions exemplify a significant breach of trust and a manipulation of resources that were designed to help those in need. The sentencing serves as a reminder of the legal repercussions associated with fraud against government programs, particularly in the context of disaster relief.
