NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — 35-year-old Jessica Ann Smothers is facing 30 years in federal prison after she claimed Hurricane Irma destroyed her rented home on Lonnie Crews Road in Nassau County. Smothers pleaded guilty to disaster fraud on Friday.
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Court documents obtained by Action News Jax show that in September of 2017, Smothers submitted a fraudulent online application for FEMA aid under the name Annabella Oxedine. In it, she said she was forced to live in a tent, because her property was damaged and utilities were out. Smothers also claimed she needed money to relocate. Overall, FEMA granted Smothers $13,838.70 in the form of critical needs assistance, personal property damage and rental assistance.
Action News Jax reporter, Meghan Moriarty, went out to the residence on Sunday and spoke with neighbors about the conditions after Hurricane Irma.
“Fairly windy and some heavy rain, but no major storm damage or anything like that,” one man said. Other neighbors said a few trees fell down, but to their knowledge, nobody’s home was hit.
Moriarty asked three different neighbors if they had seen anyone living in tents. They all said they did not.
There is currently someone living on the property, but it’s not confirmed if they have any relation to Smothers.
Court documents show that Smothers’ landlord said she and another person lived at the residence before, during and after Hurricane Irma. Smothers moved in December of 2016. In January of 2019, she moved to a mobile unit just footsteps away from the property.
Smothers was arrested last month. A mugshot photo was not released.
She is expected to be in court on Jan. 6.
People who suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, or believe they have been the victim of fraud from a person or organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, should contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll free at (866) 720-5721. A live operator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week staffs the telephone line. You can also fax information to the Center at (225) 334-4707, or email it to disaster@leo.gov. You may also visit www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl.
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