Alabama Man Pleads Guilty in Tornado Fraud Case
A west Alabama man has pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming disaster benefits following the April 27 tornadoes in Alabama.
Officials say 47-year-old Robert Lee Spires entered his plea on Monday before U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler to two counts of attempted wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 8.
Prosecutors say Spires received $1,114 for rental assistance and $471 for personal property assistance from FEMA after falsely claiming that he was renting a house in Tuscaloosa when it was damaged by a tornado. He was not eligible for the assistance because he did not live at that address and did not own any property there.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Popular Today
- Tesla Sued Over Crash That Trapped, Killed Massachusetts Driver
- Credit Suisse Nazi Probe Reveals Fresh SS Ties, Senator Says
- LA County Told to Pause $4B in Abuse Payouts as DA Probes Fraud Claims
- Why 2026 Is The Tipping Point for The Evolving Role of AI in Law and Claims
Popular This Month
- Adjusters Launch ‘CarFax for Insurance Claims’ to Vet Carriers’ Damage Estimates
- Nationwide Spending $100M on AI to Beef up Claims Efficiency, Customer Experience
- FM Using AI to Elevate Claims to Deliver More Than Just Cost Savings
- What The Return of California’s ‘Death Discount’ Means for Litigation