(NEW ORLEANS)---Two Northshore residents pled guilty and a third was sentenced in connection with federal charges that they defrauded the American Red Cross after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita back in 2005, according to U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

Letten says that 41-year-old Tammy King Watts of Hammond and 27-year-old Yanata Brown of Loranger admitted in federal court that they submitted fraudulent applications for financial assistance to the Red Cross in the days and months following Katrina and Rita.

He also said that 43-year-old Deborah McGowan of Hammond was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay full restitution for her involvement in a similar scheme.

Letten says that, according to court documents, the suspects applied for and received disaster assistance from the Red Cross numerous times, even though the assistance was on a one-time basis. He adds they indicated they had not yet received the money.

Letten says that Watts and Brown now face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when they are sentenced in January, 2009.

---