FEMA Officials Charged With Puerto Rico Hurricane Aid Fraud
- Conspiracy allegedly centered around rebuilding of power grid
- Alleged bribery took place as millions on island lacked power
A vehicle drives through streets filled with floodwater near destroyed homes from Hurricane Maria in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Sept. 25, 2017.
Photographer: Alex Wroblewski/Bloomberg
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Federal Emergency Management Agency officials who oversaw the reconstruction of Puerto Rico’s electrical grid and the former president of Cobra Acquisitions were arrested on fraud and conspiracy charges linked to recovery efforts from Hurricane Maria, according to federal prosecutors.
FEMA’s Regional Administrator Ahsha Tribble, her former deputy, Jovanda Patterson, and Cobra’s former president Donald Keith Ellison were arrested and face a 15-count indictment alleging crimes including conspiracy to bribe public officials, false statements and fraud.