Prison for Hurricane Katrina Fraud

SAN DIEGO (CN) - A 43-year-old San Diego woman was sentenced Monday to 27 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $20,000 in disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina. Cynthia Magee also was ordered to pay $20,572 in restitution.

After Katrina hit, Magee submitted a claim to FEMA, saying she lived in New Orleans, and got $14,000 in FEMA benefits. She collected another $5,000 by traveling around the Gulf Coast collecting American Red Cross disaster-relief debit cards.

Magee, also known as Cynthia Magee Turner, was sentenced for wire fraud and making false statements, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

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