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Two Escambia Women Facing Federal Charges For Fraudulent Oil Spill Claims
July 11, 2012
A federal grand jury has returned indictments charging two Escambia County residents with filing fraudulent claims with the trust fund established for Gulf Coast oil spill victims.
Indictments were returned against Jakima T. McCorvey, 36, and April McKinney, 31.
The indictment charging Jakima T. McCorvey alleges that, between October and December 2010, McCorvey submitted multiple fraudulent claims to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, claiming lost earnings as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. According to the indictment, McCorvey submitted a fraudulent letter from Howard Johnson Hotel claiming that she had worked as a housekeeper at Howard Johnson, when in fact McCorvey did not work for the hotel.
The indictment charges McCorvey with both mail fraud and wire fraud for her fraudulent claims.
The indictment charging April McKinney alleges that, in October 2010, McKinney submitted a fraudulent business claim to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, claiming lost earnings as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. According to the indictment, McKinney misrepresented the extent to which she earned income from her cleaning business and the effect the oil spill had on her opportunities for work. The indictment charges McKinney with mail fraud for her fraudulent claim.
If convicted each faces up to 20 in prison, five years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and restitution on each count.
Daniel Marlow of Panama City and Dana Dias of Destin were also indicted on similar charges.
Comments
12 Responses to “Two Escambia Women Facing Federal Charges For Fraudulent Oil Spill Claims”
@ Alice: This same governor was CEO of Columbia/HCA hospitals that now holds the record of the largest Medicare fraud ever in the United States. Somehow he escaped justice and now is Governor of Florida.
It’s no wonder that when it comes to health care reform he wants to take us back to the good ole days when a greedy man could get rich off sick people.
What these people in this article are accused of is wrong but what Rick Scott did was exponentially worse and due to his influence has not paid his debt.
3. REPORTING FRAUD
BP has established a Fraud Reporting Hotline (1-877-359-6281)
The public is encouraged to report suspected fraudulent claims. The toll free number will be posted at all claim centers. The fraud hotline is staffed by operators working for the Special Investigation Unit. All potential claims of fraud, waste, or abuse will be investigated by a dedicated Special Investigation Unit, and where appropriate, submitted to authorities. Anyone submitting false claims may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution under Federal law.
Regarding: If true, what they did is wrong. However, the amount of their fraud is undoubtedly minor compared to that of some insurance company executives (like our fine governor), who face no consequences. Justice? No. Punishment is reserved for the poor and uneducated.
Theft is theft no matter how big or small, These folks should be prosecuted. The money was placed for people who were effected by the oil spill not people to lazy to do an honest days work. While I agree with you about our Governor, his misdeeds do not excuse these people.
wantmor and NWFLA, I’m with you guys. I know a few people who received monies and wasn’t affected what so ever, while some people who were affected had to fight for help if they received any at all. It’s a shame what little morals and values people have today.
>>> William, could you please post a number to call or who needs to be contacted to file a complaint regarding someone filing a false claim?
I guess start with local law enforcement. I can’t find a specific tipline.
William, could you please post a number to call or who needs to be contacted to file a complaint regarding someone filing a false claim?
It seems that nowadays, more and more people have the idea that they can sit back and not work.. The belief is that is long as they can “get over” on someone (including the government), they will be OK.. We have an entire generation or two that is now losing the desire for hard work and trying to better themselves in an honest way..
It’s people like this that make it really hard on people that were really affected. I’m glad their little scheme was ruined.
This only reinforces pure greed and lack of morals most possess these days.
Alice, punishment should be dealt to whomever commits a crime like this and because there seems to be documents signed by these two, odds are in favor of them having done as charged. Uneducated? They were educated enough to comprehend the necessary paperwork to steal from this fund – more than once! – which was intended for true victims of the oil spill. They were essentially stealing from this community. They didn’t just innocently stumble into the claims office, accidentally lie about working somewhere or being adversely affected, and then forced to sign documentation! How many legitimate business people either lost their business or suffered significant damages while wading thru the mountains of paperwork required? Paperwork required, in part , to try and weed out liars like these four. Their greed and the greed of others like them hurt many deserving people. Fraud isn’t minor – a lie is a lie. Poor? Perhaps these ladies wouldn’t be poor if they’d apply their devious thinking skills to finding an actual job. Don’t try to justify the actions of scammers who only work hard at beating the system on your perception of people in positions of authority.
It’s about time, too bad it’s only two people, I know of several people that ran to make a claim and GOT IT, that were not legit. The whole BP payback turned my stomach, I was amazed at the amount of people that knew they weren’t harmed by the spill, but saw a free ride and jumped on the bandwagon. I work in a restaurant that saw several people making claims, that had not been affected at all. As a matter of fact the restaurant was up in sales because of the spill, and they still got a check from BP! They weren’t ashamed to take the money. It saddens me to see that our culture has taken pride in what I can get for nothing these days. I can remember a day when my grandparents and my parents would not even take a nickel if they had not earned it. We might as well go socialist because we have a society full of give me something for nothings already……
If true, what they did is wrong. However, the amount of their fraud is undoubtedly minor compared to that of some insurance company executives (like our fine governor), who face no consequences. Justice? No. Punishment is reserved for the poor and uneducated.
For Pete’s sake people, get a job! So many out there thinking they deserve a free ride.