Texas Woman Sentenced to Nearly 2 Years in Federal Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Eaton Fire FEMA Money and COVID Benefits
Summary
This June 17, 2026 release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California reports that Joyce Turner, 56, of Rosharon, Texas, was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald to 21 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $82,555 in restitution. Turner pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits and one count of mail fraud. According to the release, Turner applied to FEMA on January 10, 2025, falsely claiming to live in a Pasadena rental damaged by the Eaton Fire, and received $28,195. In August 2020 Turner filed a false California unemployment claim citing work lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Employment Development Department paid $54,360 in benefits.
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Press Release Texas Woman Sentenced to Nearly 2 Years in Federal Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Eaton Fire FEMA Money and COVID Benefits Wednesday, June 17, 2026 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California LOS ANGELES – A Texas woman was sentenced today to 21 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $28,000 in federal disaster relief money by falsely claiming that she was a Pasadena resident living in a property damaged by the Eaton Fire and for fraudulently obtaining more than $54,000 in jobless benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Joyce Turner, 56, of Rosharon, Texas, was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald, who also ordered her to pay $82,555 in restitution. Turner pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits and one count of mail fraud. On January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire ignited and burned through a residential area in Los Angeles County, killing 18 people and destroying more than 10,000 structures. A presidential disaster declaration was issued on January 8, making emergency federal financial assistance and benefits available to individuals and families affected by the Eaton Fire and to other wildfire victims in the Los Angeles area. Victims who suffered losses because of the Eaton Fire, including renters who lost personal property and/or the use of their rental residences could qualify for benefits from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The benefits included money for home repair, personal property damage, transportation, medical expenses, and housing assistance. On January 10, 2025, Turner submitted a fraudulent disaster benefits application to FEMA, falsely claiming she lived in Pasadena in a rental property that had been damaged by the Eaton Fire. In fact, Turner did not live in California and did not qualify for the benefits. FEMA, relying on Turner’s false and fraudulent claim, sent her $28,195 in wildfire disaster relief money. Turner further admitted in her plea agreement that in August 2020 she submitted a fraudulent claim for California unemployment insurance falsely claiming she had been working in California and lost work because of the COVID-19 pandemic and was entitled to unemployment insurance benefits. Following this false and fraudulent claim, California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) provided Turner with $54,360 in jobless benefits to which she was not entitled – providing these benefits through a debit card mailed to Turner at an address in Los Angeles. The United States Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Kerry L. Quinn of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs. Contact Ciaran McEvoy Public Information Officer ciaran.mcevoy@usdoj.gov (213) 894-4465 Updated June 17, 2026 Topics Fraud COVID-Related Fraud Disaster Fraud Component USAO - California, Central Press Release Number: 26-106 Related Content Press Release Malibu Woman Pleads Guilty to Helping Her Fraudster Boyfriend Escape Incarceration and Sentencing in His U.S. Criminal Case A Malibu woman pleaded guilty today to helping her convicted fraudster boyfriend hide from federal law enforcement, hide out in Mexico, and then later flee to his native Germany to... June 29, 2026 Press Release Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 10 SoCal Defendants Federally Charged with Defrauding Public Health Plans, Other Crimes As part of the national health care fraud takedown, federal law enforcement in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area have arrested five defendants, including a Whittier woman who participated in... June 23, 2026 Press Release Orange County Man Arrested on Federal Criminal Complaint Alleging He Defrauded Bank Out of Nearly $100 Million An Orange County man was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with defrauding a bank out of nearly $100 million by manipulating title policies to make collateral... June 10, 2026
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