A 49-year-old New Iberia woman will spend the next 18 months in federal prison for submitting fraudulent damage claims to federal officials after hurricanes in 2005 and 2008 and receiving more than $24,000.
U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley says Valerie Benjamin submitted the false claims to the Federal Emergency Management Agency after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, and Gustav and Ike in 2008.
Finley says Benjamin pleaded guilty April 16. Judge Richard Haik ordered Benjamin to pay $24,960 to FEMA in restitution.
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