Mississippi Red Cross Volunteer Accused of Defrauding Agency

Officials say a volunteer with the American Red Cross allegedly defrauded the agency out of $20,000 by filing false claims.

Attorney General Jim Hood says 43-year-old Wanda Perkins, of Gulfport, Miss., was charged with mail and wire fraud, false pretense and credit card fraud. She was arrested Monday night.

Hood says Perkins is accused of creating false claims of fires that destroyed homes and receiving money from the charity.

Marilynn Grossman, a regional communications manager for the Red Cross, tells The Sun Herald the agency discovered the fraud through a routine review of its operations and said officials are aware of the arrest.

It was unclear whether Perkins has an attorney.