The tale of a Hurricane Katrina hoaxster
Meet Robert Green, Hurricane Katrina victim and activist. He was quoted widely in the media, became a film star, and caught the attention of Brad Pitt–who was about to give him a new house before discovering that Robert Green was a Hurricane Katrina fraud artist. Via NOLA.com:
A Lower 9th Ward man who has campaigned for rebuilding his neighborhood since losing his home, his mother and a granddaughter in flooding after Hurricane Katrina must spend five years on probation and pay the government restitution of $8,000 for his admitted role in a house-flipping scheme before the storm, a federal court judge ordered today.
U.S. District Judge A.J. McNamara imposed the sentence on Robert Green, 52, who had been facing a possible five-year prison term,. The order came after the judge heard no objection from a federal prosecutor, who cited Green’s help with government investigations and after Green’s public defender lawyer reported that Green had begun turning his life around even before he was charged in the loan-fraud scheme.
McNamara said that while Green’s efforts to rebuild his life since Katrina are admirable, even more important is what Green has done to address a drug problem that came to light when he tested positive for cocaine use. Aware that Green spent time in a Mississippi drug treatment facility, the judge told him, “You have apparently done well.”
In a plea deal that requires that Green help the government with its investigations, Green admitted early last year to using his skills as a preparer of income tax returns to advance a scheme that left the federal goverment responsible for paying off hundreds of thousands of dollars in home mortgages that went into default. The borrowers used false tax returns that Green drew up to qualify for federally-insured loans from Citywide Mortgage Co. Court records show that Green was paid $8,000 for his services.
Probation for defrauding the government during a massive disaster? Yeah, I’d say he’s “done well.”
I guess we should just be glad that he wasn’t screaming “Shut up, white boy!” while he pulled off his hoax.
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What is wrong with our judicial system?
wake me when they get Nagin. small potato’s here.
The problem is that we have a legal system, not a justice/judicial system. Our system works from continually evolving laws designed by the legislatures.
And, a large percentage of those elected legislators on the state and federal levels are trained/employed in what field? If you guessed “lawyers“, you would be correct. Many of those lawmakers/lawyers have a vested interest in keeping the system cumbersome, as it benefits them and their livelihood outside of the legislative body.
Rags, if you are reading, please forgive me for the above statements.
Sorry Michelle, but I’m not seeing where his fraud is related to Katrina. The first paragraph states that he took part in the fraud before Katrina. The wrongdoing was admitted last year, not committed then. It seems like a coincidence that it took place in new Orleans in the midst the Katrina aftermath.
It also says he’s been helping with the investigation and he’s gone through drug-rehab. Maybe the trauma of the storm, in which he lost his mother and a granddaughter, prompted him to turn his life around.
He’s also still being considered for the house, they were waiting to see what happened in the case first.
I think you’re way off base here. Yeah the guy did wrong, but I think he was a small player in a much bigger scheme. He got caught, he admitted it, he’s not blaming Bush or anyone else, and he seems to be turning his life around.
I think at this point we should cut him some slack here and hope he goes on to have a more honest, productive life.
Where has the 2 billion of our tax money gone. What was it spent on, who spent it, who over saw the distribution of these funds. How has Mayor Nagins bank account grown. And most important has anyone gone to look at the levees lately.
After all it was the levees that broke and not Katrina that caused the flooding of the cesspool known as New Orleans.
New Orleans 9th ward Residents and Illegal Aliens appear to have a Free Pass in America to commit crimes that you or I would spend years in prison for…
“This is your country…
…this is your country on Liberalism”
Wow. I’m in the wrong business. He gets an attaboy for scamming the government out of thousands of dollars. It’s time to up the ante…perhaps I’ll get the home of my dreams in Hawaii I’ve always wanted.
30 pcs of silver,
You want a home in hawaii? Piece of cake my friend. Sign on the dotted line and do not worry because the government will aid you in making the payments on a piece of property that is not only over priced, but because you are not fiscally responsible they will make the payments for you so that you can live the good life in a utopian free, enlightened progressive society.
Fixed
Fraud and corruption is not only found in New Orleans. I was stationed in Northwest Louisiana in the mid-80s and the same type of crime was going on there. Welfare fraud and corrupt public officials (especially the Shreveport Police Department) were rampant. Was never so happy to leave an assignment in my life. I was given a 2 week notice to go to my next duty station and we cleared Barksdale AFB in plenty of time to meet the report no later than date.
I really think William Shakespeare was on to something when he wrote about killing all the lawyers. They do have a way of mudding the waters in the most obvious cases of guilt allowing too many dirtbags back into society.
Carpi,
Sounds delighful. Who cares about you poor saps footing the bill for my carefree lifestyle. Something is very wrong here. Very wrong.
Aw, 30, your whole problem is that you’ve got a conscience! If you don’t take the gummint for all its worth, somebody else will!
30 Pcs, it started with FDR’s new deal then took a massive wrong turn with LBJ’s new society. He was smoking more then meat at his bar-b-qs.
Personally, I found Cajun Country to be absolutely delightful for the year I spent in Lafayette, but then I never had to have any dealings with the legal system.
Happy to cut him some slack as soon as he pays back all of my tax money he stole. If he names all the people he helped, and they pay back all that they stole, then I’ll let him off the hook.
I don’t get the mentality. What’s wrong with being a productive member of society? You get what you put into it has always been the way I have approached things. You don’t get something for nothing. Or at least you shouldn’t…
Remember this, 30,TAANSTAAFL*, to use one of my favorite sayings by Robert Heinlein. The bills are now starting to come due, and we can’t pay them.
*There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.
My tax dollars at work! I am so frickin’ proud.
To parahrase Captain Renault (Casablanca): “I’m shocked, shocked to find (fraud) going on in here!”
Everytime Uncle Sam opens his wallet, people line up to steal from it.
When you’ve got an N.O. Mayor who spent millions on Casinos and rebuilding a football stadium while his citizens suffered ruined homes and welfare life in adjacent states then to be bused back in (temporarily) so they could vote for him; Mr. Green was just following the Mayors example.
Another looney judge, another weak federal prosecutor, and another looney public defender……
Nothing new here…..Out.
I was based at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Mississippi years ago–totally corrupt police, local city council, and state legislators. What I want to know is why is MM the only one reporting on this–and how is it connected to Katrina? If I fraud the IRS, the penalties are a lot worse than this guy got…please, spare me the whining, woe-is-me Katrina stories.
Another story about a crook committing crimes, then showing up in court, saying, “I’m a victim”. It’s usually drugs, alcohol, or abused as a child. I guess you can now add global warming, or Bush’s fault to the list. This time, it worked for him. Probation and a fine. Nice.
Just more proof that Hollywood is dumber then we think…. And thats pretty dumb!
Well, it is part of the government what else would you expect…a judgment based on judicial reasoning…can’t have that, we need more emotion and feelings when we judge a crook…/sarc
Michelle, this happened before Katrina, not after.
Come on guys he got probation because there was no more room at the chocolate jail…prisoners complained it was too cold the last few days so they turned up the heat and it melted.
$8,000 dollars is definately small potatoes,but he should be doing time none the less.No wonder fraud is so rampant in America,rip a bunch of people off,and you get to walk.
Oh, great USA government, please help poor, lazy me, and if you don’t, I shall call thee the cursed name of….INTOLERANT!
When are Americans going to wake up and get some responsibility socially and environmentally? 57% of you want a smaller government, so why is it that whenever there’s a handout, everyone seems to take it?