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A Keesler Air Force Base civilian employee appeared in federal court in Gulfport on Friday after surrendering to authorities for Katrina fraud.
Jennifer M. Johnson of Mobile, Ala., is accused of getting $8,056.75 from the Air Force for Hurricane Katrina storm damage to her home that did not happen, according to a Department of Justice press release.
Judge John Roper said Johnson faces up to 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years' probation for the fraud if convicted.
The Department of Justice press release said Johnson provided "a false report in which she claimed damage to her home was a result of Hurricane Katrina."
Though Johnson, who said she has a master's degree in public administration, was a civilian, officials at Keesler said they are going after these kinds of crimes.
"We are committed to thoroughly investigate and prosecute all allegations of false claims submitted by Air Force members for hurricane disaster-relief funds," said David McLeod, special agent with the Office of Special Investigations at Keesler.
To date Keesler has uncovered nine cases of Katrina fraud, said Tech. Sgt. Dan Neely, public affairs officer.
Four cases are complete, three are under investigation, one investigation is complete but disciplinary action is being discussed and one person recently was indicted, Neely said.
A Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport spokesperson said Thursday no cases of Katrina fraud had been reported there yet, but they only recently submitted their Katrina claims.
Johnson's case is a result of the action of a Justice Department initiative, a local Katrina Fraud Task Force consisting of more than 20 federal and state law-enforcement agencies.
The task force is pursuing 1,200 active investigations into storm-related fraud and has indicted more than 100 individuals, said Sheila Wilbanks, Justice Department spokesperson.
The task force was formed in the Southern District of Mississippi to pursue and prosecute individuals who engage in fraud associated with the hurricanes, according to a recent Justice Department press release.
Anyone with information concerning possible fraud being committed during the post-Katrina recovery effort is asked to call either the DHS-OIG Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or the FBI Fraud Hotline at 1-800-225-5324.