Slidell woman pleads guilty to wire fraud

By Erik Sanzenbach
St. Tammany News
Published on Sunday, November 8, 2009 12:25 AM CST

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U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said that Slidell resident Kiwama Thornton, 32, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman Friday to one count of wire fraud for her participation in a scheme to defraud American Red Cross after Hurricane Katrina.

Thornton pleaded guilty to using deception to get $18,180 from Red Cross. After Katrina hit the area, the American Red Cross set up relief stations. They offered debit cards to victims of the storm that were loaded with disaster assistance funds. The victims had to sign agreements that they had never applied for the aid. But according to a bill of information, Thomas admitted between Sept. 9, 2005, and Oct. 6, 2005, she applied for the aid at 13 different Red Cross stations, each time telling Red Cross workers that it was the first time she applied for the money.

Thornton will be sentenced Feb. 25. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail and a $250,000 fine.

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