Man Sentenced to Prison for Katrina Fraud

A 42-year-old Billings, Mont., man has been sentenced to three months in prison for fraudulently obtaining federal aid for hurricane Katrina victims.

U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull sentenced Mitchael Morgan and ordered him to pay $2,000 in restitution. Morgan pleaded guilty to filing a false claim.

Morgan’s attorney sought a probationary sentence, saying his client was more of a “pain in the lower extremity” than a danger to the community.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Fehr argued that Morgan had eight prior convictions and failed to comply with court orders in four.

Morgan worked for Rimrock Auto in the summer of 2005 when the company sent him and other employees to a dealership in New Orleans to help the financially failing business. He was there for 30 days and left just before Hurricane Katrina struck, but filed a claim with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.