Florida Woman Charged for Hurricane Aid Fraud

Veronica Torres, a 44-year-old woman from Bradenton, Florida, has been charged with filing a false public assistance claim after using her mother's identity to secure nearly $8,000 in hurricane disaster relief funds. Torres applied to the City of Bradenton's Hurricane Disaster Assistance Program, claiming she was forced out of her home due to damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The fraud was detected when a city employee noticed Torres appeared significantly younger than the age indicated on her application, attributed by Torres to 'Botox treatments.' Despite this defense, the employee reported the discrepancy to the police, leading to Torres's arrest the following day. She was released on a $2,500 bond but faces a third-degree felony charge, which could result in five years of prison or probation and up to $5,000 in fines. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring that disaster relief funds reach those genuinely in need.