A Customs and Border Protection official is facing charges for allegedly defrauding FEMA and lying to federal agents. Serina Baker-Hill, the director of the CBP’s specialty engineering division, is accused of filing false disaster aid claims following floods in Detroit back in August 2023. Despite an inspector's verification of damage and approval for rental assistance funds, surveillance and bank records suggest a different story, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office federal criminal complaint unsealed today, Baker-Hill did not to actually lodge herself and her husband outside their residence as required by her FEMA application. Instead, her bank transactions show no evidence of paying for temporary housing or utilities, and their utility usage did not significantly decrease after the FEMA benefits were obtained.
Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck, along with Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson from the FBI's Detroit field office and Daniel Altman, Executive Director of CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, announced the charges. Despite the allegations, representatives remind the public that a complaint represents only charges and is not indicative of guilt, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The investigation, conducted by the FBI’s Detroit Border Corruption Task Force and CBP-OPR, has yet to either fully verify these claims or obtain a felony indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton P. Brown is to lead the prosecution, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
