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10 plead not guilty to fraud in storm aid
Associated Press
Published March 13, 2005
MIAMI - Ten Miami-Dade County residents have pleaded not guilty to charges they cheated the federal government by filing false aid claims for property damage caused by Hurricane Frances, which barely hit the area.
The 10 pleaded not guilty in federal court Friday. They were among 14 people indicted for wire and mail fraud in the continuing probe of hurricane aid claims to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Two people entered not guilty pleas last week, and authorities were seeking two others.
The agency has paid more than $30-million to about 13,000 residents of Miami-Dade, even though the Labor Day storm did not generate hurricane-force winds in the county.
Frances hit Sept. 5 near Sewall's Point in Martin County, nearly 100 miles from Miami, and forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said the highest wind gust recorded in Miami-Dade was 59 mph. Hurricane strength is sustained winds of 74 mph.
[Last modified March 13, 2005, 00:21:06]
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