A Sherman Oaks woman is expected to be sentenced Wednesday for seeking disaster-relief funds by falsely claiming that a property she rented in Pacific Palisades was destroyed in the Palisades Fire, despite having no connection to the residence affected by the disaster.
Zenalyn McIntre, 38, pleaded guilty in June in downtown Los Angeles to one federal count of fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits.
Based on her false claim, the Federal Emergency Management Agency distributed nearly $25,229 in disaster-relief funds to McIntre.
The defendant admitted that on Jan. 20, she 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, prosecutors said.
A host of 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 at least 30 people. Former President Joe Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration, which prompted FEMA to develop a program to provide financial assistance to fire victims.
FEMA offered various forms of relief, a one-time payment of $750, up to $43,600 for “other needs” assistance,...
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