Judge Sentences Man To 16 Months For FEMA Fraud

Thursday, August 2nd 2007, 7:42 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A federal judge sentences an Oklahoma City man to 16 months in federal prison for making false statements to collect disaster benefits following Hurricane Katrina.

Darryl Eugene Hayes is already serving a four-year term in state prison for possessing crack cocaine. He was sentenced in August 2006.

The 40-year-old Hayes unsuccessfully lobbied U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton to run the two sentences concurrently, so his punishment in the fraud case won't begin until he finishes his stint in state prison.

Hayes pleaded guilty to the federal charge in April.

He claimed he had been living in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit and applied for disaster benefits in October 2005.

Court papers show he received more than $12,000 in aid.