Daylife/AP Photo by Tim Isbell
The mayor of Gulfport, Mississippi, and his wife were arrested Wednesday on charges they defrauded the federal government and an insurance company of more than $220,000 in claims related to Hurricane Katrina.
Gregory Brent Warr and Laura Jean Warr were named in a 16-count federal indictment handed up last week by a grand jury, the Department of Justice said in a news release. They are accused of conspiracy, Federal Emergency Management Agency fraud, Department of Housing and Urban Development home grant fraud and insurance fraud, all arising from claims after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast.
He said he pleaded not guilty, but said he will not speak further about the case…
According to the indictment, the Warrs in 2005 applied for FEMA assistance regarding a Gulfport home, telling officials that home was their primary residence when it was not. In 2006, the indictment says, the couple applied to the Mississippi Development Authority for a Homeowner’s Assistance Grant funded by HUD, again claiming they lived at the address.
The indictment also alleges the Warrs made misrepresentations to Lexington Insurance Company regarding personal property in the insured home, payment of rent for alternative living after Katrina and the extent of damage to the home.
How about someone getting back to helping the folks who are still in trouble?
According to one corner of MS interwebitube news, Warr’s hanky-panky could have-should have been caught a lot sooner.
http://tinyurl.com/bpzfq5
Read through the comments and it seems he’s 2nd-generation corrupt political hack.
What is happening to our elected officials?
Seems like in the last eight years, there has a been an utter free for all in white collar crimes and deception.
What exactly happened in 2000 that started this mess?
It doesn’t mention party affiliation, so he must be a Democrat. All this Democratic corruption is getting sickening. The Chicago way is moving to the rest of the country.
@Thermo
Bzzzzzzt. Incorrect, this bozo is a Republican.
# 2 Dallas said, “What is happening to our elected officials? ”
I don’t know. Money hidden in freezers, the job of Gov of Illinois producing ~50% chance of going to jail.
God. Shoot them ALL.
How do the Democrats explain the money in the freezer?
Dallas, Short term memory is a terrible thing to waste.
Pols have been theives since the there was politics.
Big surprise, too bad I didn’t have any faith left to lose in politics or politicians.
# 6 Mr Diesel said, “How do the Democrats explain the money in the freezer?”
Funny you should ask. The purp was a Global Warming nut. He said he was keeping his money from getting too warm. Other dems in the Congress are backing that story.
It’s always been this way. From the Caesars to Boss Tweed.
#6, Diesel,
How do the Democrats explain the money in the freezer?
Cold hard cash?
My understanding is that Jefferson took this money to use setting up infrastructure in Africa. I am unaware that he used any for personal gain.
But a better question is why do Republicans always like to change the topic when they are in a bad light?
This is just high profile just because it is a mayor…and rightfully so. One must know that this accusation isn’t unique and occurred all over the coast after katrina. Those that actually lost homes had to fight insurance companies for every cent that they could get, but those that had next to nothing wrong with their homes felt like they could get something so they lied…many did. I’m sure if the government and insurance companies really looked into all the non-destroyed homes claims, they would really discover this for themselves. Really though just shame on this elected official for adding to the list of bad precedents!