Hawaii Man Indicted; Katrina Fraud Alleged

Federal officials say a man in Hawaii has been charged by a grand jury in connection with an investment scheme related to rebuilding projects in areas of Mississippi affected by Hurricane Katrina.

A Justice Department news release from the Jackson FBI office identifies the man as 54-year-old Dan Doyle, a resident of the island of Oahu.

The indictment alleges that Doyle promoted investments in Mississippi projects financed through the federal government’s Gulf Opportunity Zone program.

Seventeen people used wire transfers or mail to send more than $890,000 to Doyle for investments in GO Zone projects that were never built, according to the indictment.

Doyle allegedly spent investor money on personal and business obligations. Online court records do not indicate when Doyle will appear in court to answer the charges.