Five defendants have been arrested on federal charges alleging they fraudulently obtained federal disaster-relief funds by falsely claiming their properties were damaged in the wildfires that struck Los Angeles County in January, authorities announced Friday.
The alleged false claims were made in the wake of the Eaton and Palisades fires that started on Jan. 7. Together, the wildfires burned nearly 60,000 acres, destroyed more than 16,000 structures, and resulted in the deaths of 30 people. As a result, the Federal Emergency Management Agency developed a program to provide financial assistance to fire victims.
Victims of the Eaton and Palisades fires, including renters who lost their residences, could qualify for a one-time payment of $750 noted as a FEMA relief payment, $43,600 for other needs assistance — personal property, transportation, medical, etc. — and housing assistance for up to 18 months at varying rates. Homeowners are also potentially eligible for additional relief up to $43,600 for home repair.
Among those charged in Los Angeles federal court are:
— Deanniah Hogan, 32, of Compton, who allegedly submitted a false claim for federal disaster assistance related to the Palisades Fire, listing an address in Pacific Palisades as the purportedly damaged dwelling in which she claimed to live and rent. After approving the application, FEMA sent a total of nearly $17,351 to Hogan, including for personal property damage and displacement assistance;
— Delvonne Dashon Johnson, 31, of the East Hollywood area of Los Angeles, allegedly submitted a fraudulent claim for FEMA benefits related to the Palisades Fire, listing an address in Pacific Palisades as his purported dwelling that he owned. FEMA sent Johnson a total of almost $64,138 in federal disaster relief;
— Keandre Lowe, 21, of Long Beach, who allegedly submitted a bogus claim for FEMA benefits, claiming that he rented an Altadena property that was destroyed in the Eaton Fire. FEMA had submitted nearly $28,286 in disaster relief to Lowe;
— Zenalyn McIntre, 38, of Sherman Oaks, allegedly submitted a false claim for federal disaster relief by claiming that she was a renter of a residence in Pacific Palisades that was destroyed in the Palisades Fire. Eight days later, she submitted additional documents online to FEMA, including her California driver’s license, which listed a Sherman Oaks address — and a natural gas utility bill that appeared to be fake. Based on her false claim, FEMA distributed about $25,229 in disaster-relief funds to McIntre; and
— Katrina Woods, 33, of Maricopa, Arizona, allegedly submitted a fraudulent claim for disaster assistance, listing a nonexistent Altadena address as her primary residence that purportedly was destroyed in the Eaton Fire. FEMA eventually disbursed nearly $23,441 in disaster relief to Woods, who also made reservations through FEMA to stay at two hotels — one in downtown Los Angeles, the other in Hawthorne — during February and March of 2025 paid for by FEMA. On March 10, FEMA discontinued lodging for Woods at the hotel in downtown Los Angeles where she was staying.
Each defendant is charged with fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits, which carries a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison, prosecutors said.