Prosecutors Allege Tulsa Man Filed False Katrina Claim

Thursday, December 6th 2007, 2:44 pm

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- A Tulsa man has been charged in federal court with submitting a false claim for Hurricane Katrina-related disaster relief. Troy M. Ruffin was charged with one felony count of making a false statement to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Prosecutors contend Ruffin made a false claim for assistance in September 2005, indicating the hurricane caused damage to an apartment he was renting in New Orleans.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles McLoughlin says Ruffin allegedly received nearly $6,000 before a tipster alerted authorities to his purported activity.

McLoughlin says the New Orleans residence actually belonged to a relative of Ruffin's.