Three individuals from Southern California and Texas have been arrested for allegedly defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. They stand accused of submitting false claims for disaster relief aid following the devastating Eaton and Palisades wildfires, using property details they had no legal connection to.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally stated, “These defendants allegedly made false and fraudulent claims to FEMA for emergency benefits related to wildfires that devastated Los Angeles County two months ago.” He emphasized that their actions diverted crucial funds from real victims while illegally profiting from the system. Special Agent in Charge Matthew Brackett of the DHS OIG Los Angeles Field Office reinforced the commitment to protecting government aid programs from fraud.
Authorities charged Tyrone D. Barnes Jr. and Hedeshia Robertson with submitting fraudulent disaster claims for properties they neither owned nor lived in. The third suspect, Joyce Turner, allegedly filed a claim for a home supposedly destroyed in the Eaton fire, despite having no legitimate ties to the address.
The fraudulent claims led to substantial payouts—Robertson received around $24,899, while Turner obtained over $25,000. The charge of fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison, while making a false claim against the U.S. government can lead to a five-year sentence.
Public Information Officer Ciaran McEvoy provided updates on the case, detailing the next steps in the legal process. Federal agencies, including HSI’s El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force and the IRS Criminal Investigation Unit, continue to investigate. As Los Angeles recovers, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry L. Quinn is leading the prosecution to ensure those exploiting disaster aid face justice
