Appeals Court to hear Katrina fraud case

Published 4:47 pm Wednesday, April 15, 2009

A federal appeals court will hear arguments April 27 from a Moss Point man convicted of lying about where he was living when Hurricane Katrina hit to obtain more than $113,000 in federal and state disaster assistance.

Lee Taylor was convicted in 2008 of fraud, theft and making false statements to obtain assistance. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison and was ordered to make restitution.

Taylor appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

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Prosecutors say Taylor lied about living in a home he owned in Moss Point when the hurricane came ashore in 2005. As a result, FEMA gave him $23,841 and a travel trailer to live in. He also received more than $90,000 in state grants.