BATON ROUGE - The Department of Justice has announced a number of convictions for individuals suspected of fraudulently receiving flood assistance.

Following the 2016 flooding, which affected 12 parishes in south Louisiana, FEMA funds were available to people who had emergency needs for food, shelter, and clothing. 

According to documents submitted to the Court, in August 2016, Courtney Hickman filed a fraudulent claim with FEMA seeking disaster assistance funds for a home in Baton Rouge that he claimed was his primary residence at the time of the storm.

At the time of the storm, however, Hickman was residing elsewhere and was renting his home to a tenant for four months prior to and throughout the period of the August 2016 flooding.

Hickman pled guilty to stealing $26,362 in FEMA funds.