A federal grand jury has indicted Wanda Gail McBride, 51, Joplin, on one count of disaster fraud and two counts of making false statements to FEMA, according to documents filed Friday in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
The government alleges that Ms. McBride claimed that between June 29 and Oct. 20, 2011, that she had moved into a $400 a month apartment, a claim that was false and designed to help her get FEMA payments after the May 22 Joplin Tornado.
Ms. McBride was released on a personal recognizance bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 21 in Springfield.
The McBride indictment is the second to be announced from the federal grand jury investigation into scam artists who were taking advantage of the tornado.
As noted in the May 9 Turner Report, Shane Ellis, 37, was charged with single counts of disaster fraud and making false statements. He claimed he lived in a home at 2115 Virginia that was hit by the tornado when, in fact, that was not his residence.
Ellis was also released on a personal recognizance bond and is set for a May 21 arraignment.
A document filed Friday indicates Ellis will be represented by a federal public defender.
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