Miss. Man’s FEMA Fraud Conviction Appeal Denied

A panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of Randall T. Thirsk for FEMA fraud.

Thirsk was convicted in 2010 in federal court in Gulfport, Miss., on four counts. Prosecutors say Thirsk received more than $1,000 from FEMA by making false claims and statements.

Thirsk was sentenced to eight months in prison and two consecutive two-year terms of supervised release.

In his appeal, Thirsk claimed he was denied a speedy trial. He said he was indicted in December 2006 and was arraigned in August 2010 and tried two months later.

A 5th Circuit three-judge panel said Friday that Thirsk failed to prove how a delay of three years and eight months deprived him of presenting a defense to the charges.