Man charged with Hurricane Isaac fraud

Published 12:09 am Saturday, February 23, 2019

NEW ORLEANS — A St. John the Baptist Parish man has been charged in federal court for Hurricane Isaac-related fraud dating back more than five years.

U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser said 57-year-old Keith Craig of LaPlace was charged Thursday in a one-count Bill of Information with making a false statement to the Small Business Administration.

If convicted, Craig faces up to five years in jail, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans is in charge of the prosecution.

Court documents noted Craig executed a Small Business Administration loan Nov. 12, 2013, acknowledging the loan proceeds were solely for property damaged by Hurricane Isaac following the storm’s crushing blow to St. John in August of the year before.

Prosecutors said Craig agreed to return any loan proceeds not used to repair damage to his residence or to replace personal property damaged by Hurricane Isaac.

Prosecutors say between 2013 and 2014, Craig provided fraudulent documentation and statements related to his annual income and the repairs performed on his home in LaPlace.