The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction and sentence of Maurice Hammond, former police chief of Lumberton.

Hammond, 37, was found guilty of eight counts in a weeklong trial. He was convicted of making false claims and statements to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration, and wire fraud for applying for and receiving disaster assistance after Hurricane Katrina.

District Judge Louis Guirola Jr. sentenced him in August 2009, ordering 2 1/2 years in prison and $29,438 in restitution.

Prosecutors presented evidence showing Hammond received more than $19,000 and a FEMA trailer by falsely claiming he was living in a home in Poplarville that had no water or electric service.