Jacksonville man accused of filing bogus Irma claim with FEMA

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A federal grand jury has indicted a Jacksonville man accused of filing a bogus claim with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Erick Williams, 31, was arrested by federal agents Thursday on one count of filing a false claim, according to the Department of Justice. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

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According to the indictment, Williams lied about the address of his primary residence when he submitted a claim for assistance from FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program.

FEMA has approved over $1 billion in federal assistance for those impacted by Irma, including $503 million to cover rent for displaced people, since a disaster was declared in September 2017.

A June 4 trial date has been set for Williams.