Storm funds ripoff charged; Feds: Maryland man stole hurricane victims’ identities as part of $8M scam of FEMA program

A Prince George's County man stole the identities of hurricane victims to take part in a nationwide effort to scam $8 million from a FEMA assistance program, Secret Service officials say.

In an affidavit filed Sept. 7 in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, federal investigators allege that Tare Stanley Okirika, 30, of Laurel, fraudulently collected $650,000 in Severn, Glen Burnie, Bowie and other locations as a "large network of co-conspirators."

Secret Service agents wrote that Okirika registered Green Dot cards - unique pre-paid debit cards the Federal Emergency Management Agency says allow for more anonymity than a traditional bank card - under a number of stolen identities. He then used stolen Social Security and personal identifying information to file fraudulent claims for disaster relief on behalf of hurricane victims in Georgia, Florida and Texas, the affidavit reads.

He would then withdraw the money at various locations, including Walmart cash centers in Severn and Pasadena, the affidavit says.

Okirika has been charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was released after an initial court appearance.

Officials with FEMA and the U.S. Attorney for Maryland, who would prosecute the case, could not be reached for comment. An official with the U.S. Secret Service declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

A federal public defender representing Okirika did not return calls Tuesday.

Okirika is listed in the affidavit as one of three co-conspirators in the case, and investigators claim "about $8 million in Federal Emergency Management Administration immediate and individual assistance ... was paid to Green Dot debit cards that law enforcement learned were held by perpetrators of fraud" across the country. The affidavit does not name the others involved in the alleged scheme.

In one case, the Secret Service claims that Okirika fraudulently registered a Green Dot card at a Dollar Tree store in Bowie on July 6, 2017, under the identity of someone from California.

Okirika then used that card "to register for $500 in FEMA immediate disaster assistance under three other different stolen identities" who were disaster victims in Texas, Florida and Georgia, the affidavit reads.

The card also was used to claim $18,617 in Social Security benefits from another individual, the affidavit claims.

After the Social Security benefits were paid to the card in January, investigators say he then withdrew at least $14,012 through four different Walmart cash centers, including locations in Pasadena, Severn and Columbia.

In total, Okirika allegedly used 178 Green Dot debit cards to receive fraudulent payments of $653,576.06 over the past year, according to the affidavit.

The Secret Service stated that the fraud committed is, in part, due to the card's nature. The affidavit reads that "the card purchaser may remain completely anonymous" when they buy the card.

"For registration, individuals can use any real individual's name and address (Green Dot does work to verify that names and addresses match), and can register the card anonymously from a mobile phone or the Internet," the affidavit reads.

"Sometimes, individuals perpetrating fraud schemes will register the cards using the same stolen identities that they are otherwise exploiting," it continues. "They may also use entirely different stolen identities or, on occasion, their own identities."

It's through this system, the Secret Service says, that Okirika used the slew of stolen identities to steal the funds, the agency claims.

There are also questions as to how FEMA handled these fraudulent claims, as its website claims that after someone applies for individual assistance, "an inspector for FEMA will need to visit your home to check disaster caused damages."

In at least one instance, the Secret Service wrote, the funds were awarded to Okirika only two days after he filed an application.

Writing about an alleged fraudulent claim made using the stolen identity of a Florida resident, investigators wrote that "on Sept. 26, 2017, (a fraudulent Green Dot) card was used to register for $500 in FEMA immediate disaster assistance under the same identity."

"Money was paid to the card on behalf of (the victim) on or about Sept. 28, 2017," the affidavit reads, adding that he withdrew $485.50 using that card the same day.

According to FEMA's website, the home inspection "is needed to verify and assess the damages listed in your application" and someone 18 years or older must be present and inspectors will ask to see photo identification, proof of homeownership and insurance documents.

It is unclear whether FEMA agents inspected the homes Okirika is alleged to have fraudulently claimed were his.

Green Dot did not reply to questions as to whether the alleged scheme will cause them to review their policies.

Credit: By Phil Davis - [email protected]

Caption: Green Dot cards are unique pre-paid debit cards that allow for more anonymity than a traditional bank card.

Kim Hairston / Baltimore Sun