Appeals Court rules in Katrina fraud case

JACKSON — A federal appeals court has upheld a Moss Point man’s conviction of lying about where he was living when Hurricane Katrina hit to unlawfully obtain more than $113,000 in federal and state disaster assistance.

Lee Taylor was convicted in 2008 of fraud, theft and making false statements to obtain assistance. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison and was ordered to make restitution.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on Tuesday upheld his conviction and sentence.

Prosecutors say Taylor lied about living in a home he owned in Moss Point when the hurricane hit in 2005. As a result, FEMA gave him $23,841 and a travel trailer to live in. He also received more than $90,000 in state grants.