Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Getting FEMA Grants

A Louisiana man has pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud after illegally obtaining grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and making false statements on workers compensation forms.

U.S. Stephanie A. Finley said 57-year-old Curtis Roller pleaded guilty Monday. According to evidence at the plea hearing, Roller submitted false information on grant applications so that fire departments in Louisiana and Arkansas were eligible to get federal funds, which could be used to buy equipment from his company, Louisiana Firefighting Services.

Roller is accused of inflating population data, agency coverage areas and numbers of responded calls on the grant applications.

Roller faces up to 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution for each wire fraud count. Sentencing is set for Sept. 18.