Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel announced his agents have arrested an allegedly corrupt federal government official charged with executing a scheme to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and lying to federal agents. On Wednesday, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan announced charges against Serina Baker-Hill, a career federal employee who serves as the director of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Center for Excellence and Expertise over Automotive and Aerospace Engineering for the alleged fraud plot.
“Following efforts with our interagency partners, I can report that a career Director level employee at US Customs and Border Protection has been charged with allegedly attempting to defraud FEMA, as well as lying to federal agents,” FBI Director Patel stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter), adding: “This is part of the new FBI’s renewed efforts to crack down on public corruption and deliver accountability for the American people. Justice will be done.”
Baker-Hill, according to the criminal complaint, filed for FEMA assistance following the 2023 floods in Detroit, Michigan. While a FEMA inspector found that the basement of Baker-Hill’s home had suffered water damage, and Baker-Hill claimed her home was unlivable while under repair, federal investigators found that the CBP official did not use the relief funds to pay for approved expenses like rent and utilities.
“According to Baker-Hill’s bank records, none of the FEMA money was used for rental, hotel, or utility expenses,” the U.S. Attorney’s office states. They add: “Video surveillance at the home showed that Baker-Hill and her husband continued to live in the home after receiving the rental assistance funds from FEMA.”
No comments:
Post a Comment