2 Mississippi Women Sentenced in Disaster Aid Cases

Two women have been sentenced in separate cases for lying about their primary residences to receive federal disaster aid after tornados and heavy flooding hit Mississippi in 2011.

A federal judge in Oxford ordered Tamya H. Jones to serve 12 months and 1 day in prison, followed by five years’ supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $21,052.

Jones is to report to prison on Nov. 4.

In the other case, a federal judge in Aberdeen sentenced Laura Van Horn to 37 months in prison, followed by five years’ supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,199. Van Horn is already in prison.

Prosecutors say each defendant had pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of fraud.