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Senior Customs and Border Patrol Official Charged with 'Scheme to Defraud FEMA' and Lying to Federal

Discussion in 'Too Hot for Swamp Gas' started by flgator2, Mar 13, 2025 at 3:16 AM.

  1. Mar 13, 2025 at 3:16 AM #1
    flgator2

    flgator2 GC Hall of Fame

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    Senior Customs and Border Patrol Official Charged with 'Scheme to Defraud FEMA' and Lying to Federal Agents

    “A federal criminal complaint was unsealed today charging the Director of United States Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Center for Excellence and Expertise over Automotive and Aerospace Engineering with engaging in a scheme to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and lying to federal agents, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced,” the release begins.

    It continued: “Serina Baker-Hill, 55, of Detroit, is a career employee of CBP. Following a series of floods in the Detroit area in August of 2023, Michigan’s request for a federal disaster declaration was approved, which allowed residents to apply for FEMA assistance

    “The approval letter from FEMA indicated that the rental assistance money was to be used solely to help Baker-Hill pay rent and essential utility costs while she was in temporary housing.”

    “According to Baker-Hill’s bank records, none of the FEMA money was used for rental, hotel, or utility expenses,” the release states. “Video surveillance at the home showed that Baker-Hill and her husband continued to live in the home after receiving the rental assistance funds from FEMA.

    I'm positive a bunch of this has happened over the years, if true I hope she gets what she deserves.
     
  2. Mar 13, 2025 at 3:35 AM #2
    AgingGator

    AgingGator GC Hall of Fame

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    Is anyone else wondering why CBP has a Center for Excellence and Expertise over Automotive and Aerospace Engineering?
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
  3. Mar 13, 2025 at 4:49 AM #3
    vaxcardinal

    vaxcardinal GC Hall of Fame

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    No
     
  4. Mar 13, 2025 at 6:54 AM #4
    exiledgator

    exiledgator Gruntled

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    If this is true she should return the funds,lose her job, and face the consequences for any laws she broke.
     
  5. Mar 13, 2025 at 6:55 AM #5
    G8R92

    G8R92 GC Hall of Fame

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    Can't wait for Spacesuit Barbie to make an appearance cracking down on this corruption.
     
  6. Mar 13, 2025 at 7:03 AM #6
    G8tas

    G8tas GC Hall of Fame

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    Why would we be wondering that?
     
  7. Mar 13, 2025 at 7:05 AM #7
    BLING

    BLING GC Hall of Fame

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    Her home was hit by the flood. So the “award” was probably legit, but she just decided to pocket the few thousand dollars instead of getting the hotel or rental FEMA was covering.

    I’m sure this happens quite a bit. Not exactly the scandal of the century, very low level stuff, but if she was dumb enough to risk her career for a few thousand $$$ in stolen grant money you can’t have much sympathy either.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  8. Mar 13, 2025 at 7:12 AM #8
    gator_jo

    gator_jo GC Hall of Fame

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    Your post leaves some doubts as to what she "deserves."

    But if one assumes she's a criminal, and looks at your voting record, it's a safe inference that you think she should be elected to high office - even President?

    Or is she not criminal enough? Does she need to incite an attack on our government?