Guilty Plea in Oil Spill Claim by Phony ‘Caterer’

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Orleans says a 27-year-old man has pleaded guilty in connection with a fraudulent claim following the 2010 BP oil spill.

Jordan A. Sanchez of New Orleans pleaded guilty to mail fraud on Thursday.

Prosecutors said Sanchez submitted a fraudulent claim to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, including a fraudulent letter from a catering company stating that he was terminated because the oil spill affected the business.

The claim resulted in a $27,000 check being mailed to Sanchez. But an investigator later found that Sanchez had not worked for the company.

Sanchez will be sentenced Oct. 17. He could get 20 years in prison with a fine of up to $250,000.