LOS ANGELES — Three people are facing charges for allegedly falsely claiming they were residents of Altadena and the Pacific Palisades and obtaining more than $40,000 in disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency intended for victims of the January wildfires, prosecutors said Monday.
“When you choose to steal FEMA wildfire relief funds, you are stealing from the thousands of fire victims who desperately need financial assistance rebuilding their homes and their lives,” L.A. County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement announcing the charges.
–Jerry Lee Clay Jr., 43 of Los Angeles, was charged with one felony count of procuring and offering a false or forged instrument, one felony count of grand theft, and two felony counts of unauthorized use of personal identifying information.
Clay allegedly submitted a FEMA application using a phony Pacific Palisades residence at which he did not live and an apartment number that does not exist. He ultimately obtained nearly $15,000 in federal disaster assistance in January and February, prosecutors said.
He also allegedly impersonated people he falsely claimed were his landlords in documents submitted to FEMA to verify tenancy claims.
Clay pleaded not guilty to all charges, and was released on bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday in downtown Los Angeles. If convicted as charged, Clay would face four years and four months in state prison.
–Matthew Garnet O’Brien, 44, of Los Angeles, was charged with one felony count of offering a forged or false instrument and one felony count of grand theft.
O’Brien is accused of stealing nearly $12,315 from FEMA in January and February by submitting a fraudulent FEMA application misrepresenting his residential address as a home in Altadena. He surrendered to law enforcement and was released on his own recognizance. His arraignment is set for Nov. 25 downtown. If convicted as charged, O’Brien would face three years in state prison.
–Maricka Marie Gilmore, 37, of Marrero, Louisiana, was charged with one felony count each of procuring and offering a false or forged instrument and grand theft.
Gilmore allegedly submitted a FEMA application using a Pacific Palisades residence at which she did not live and an apartment number that does not exist. She is accused of stealing about $14,150 from FEMA in February 2025.
Gilmore was extradited from Louisiana to Los Angeles and is being held on $50,000 bail. If convicted as charged, Gilmore would face three years in state prison.