Woman Sentenced for Defrauding the American Red Cross in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

QUIANA SELDERS, a/k/a Quiana Bridges, a/k/a Quiana Bridges-Selders, age 35, a resident of Hammond, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman to three (3) years’ probation for defrauding the American Red Cross in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition to the probationary period, SELDERS is required to pay back the entirety of the $7,590 in disaster relief funds she fraudulently obtained.

According to court documents, SELDERS fraudulently applied for disaster assistance funds from the American Red Cross on six (6) separate occasions between September and October 2005. The Red Cross made disaster assistance funds of up to $1,565 available to those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 on a one-time only basis. In all, according to court documents, SELDERS fraudulently obtained $7,590 from the American Red Cross.

The case was investigated by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Chester.