JACKSON – Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood said an Itawamba County resident has been arrested after she allegedly tried to claim disaster relief to which she was not rightfully due after a tornado hit the small town of Smithville on April 27.
Following a tip from General Hood who recently visited the tornado-ravaged town of Smithville, investigators from his office and the Monroe County Sheriff’s office arrested 53-year old Pamela Thompson, who lives just outside Smithville in the 400 block of Highway 25 South.
Thompson was arrested and charged with two counts of fraudulent use of identity.
An investigation revealed that Thompson went to the United Way disaster relief center located on Industrial Drive in Smithville, in Monroe County and allegedly told officials there she needed to get some items for a close relative and his family whose home was destroyed in the storm.
Thompson then received two grocery carts full of goods, and she gave the name and address of her relative as the location to where the goods were going.
Thompson left and reportedly came back for another round of goods 30 minutes later.
Hood said the scam began to unravel when the wife of Thompson’s relative came to pick up some necessities.
Investigators found the majority of the goods in Thompson’s home, which Hood said “was not damaged in any way by the storm.”
Thompson was arrested and transported to the Monroe County Jail.
“We appreciate the assistance of Sheriff Andy Hood and his deputies in this case,” said Attorney General Hood. “It is unfortunate but true that disasters like this bring out the best and the worst in folks. Rest assured that we will go after the worst.”
If convicted Thompson faces a $5,000 fine and five years behind bars per each count. The penalty doubles upon a second conviction.
General Hood said If anyone suspects fraud in the aftermath of last week’s storms, please contact Monroe County Sheriff Andy Hood directly at 662-315-4399 or the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-281-4418.
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