NEW ORLEANS — A St. Charles Parish woman faces 20 years in jail after an indictment claims she fraudulently collected more that $30,000 in relief following the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill in 2010, authorities said.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced Melissa Ann Duran, 42, of Des Allemands, was charged Thursday in a one-count indictment with mail fraud.

According to court documents, Polite said the Gulf Coast Claims Facility made disaster assistance money available to individuals and businesses impacted by the oil spill resulting from the Deepwater Horizon explosion that occurred April 20, 2010.

On Aug. 23, 2010, Duran applied for disaster assistance funds, claiming she lost income due to the oil spill. Polite said Duran represented she worked in seafood processing for a commercial fisherman for two years before the oil spill. However, Duran had never worked as a seafood processor for the stated commercial fisherman, and she submitted or caused to be submitted false documentation to establish her false earnings.

Duran received approximately $33,800 to which she was not entitled, Polite said.

If convicted, Duran faces 20 years in jail, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release following imprisonment and a $100 special assessment.

Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis is in charge of the prosecution.