Ex-FEMA employee in Miss., cousin charged with stealing $721K meant for hurricane victims

Ex-FEMA worker charged in $721K in Katrina fraud

JACKSON, Miss. — A former Federal Emergency Management Agency employee and her cousin are being accused of stealing more than $721,000 in Hurricane Katrina relief money.

Former FEMA worker Lashonda Booker and her cousin, Peggy Hilton, have been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud in Mississippi.

Booker had no comment when contacted Monday and wouldn’t say if the women have lawyers. Hilton could not immediately be reached.

Booker worked in FEMA’s Biloxi office. She is accused of using a government database to get information about storm victims who applied for assistance. Prosecutors say Hilton used the information to get FEMA to send money to a bank account.