SHREVEPORT, La., (KNOE 8 News) - United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley has announced that Curtis Roller, 56, of Jonesboro, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for 11 counts of wire fraud after obtaining Federal Emergency Management Agency grants and four counts of making false statements on workers compensation forms.
According to the indictment, from Jan. 1, 2002 to Dec. 31, 2010, Roller submitted false information on grant applications he sent to FEMA so Louisiana and Arkansas fire departments he wrote grants for were eligible to receive the funds. Roller is accused of inflating population data, agency coverage areas and numbers of responded calls on the FEMA grant applications. He also is accused of overstating the type of calls responded to, under-reporting the size of budgets and increasing the scope of their needs on the applications.
It is further alleged in the indictment that Roller asked those awarded the FEMA grants to purchase equipment from his two companies, Louisiana Firefighters Services and a vehicle manufacturing company in Smyrna, Ga. It is against FEMA rules and policies for a grant writer to financially benefit from money awarded.
Also as part of the indictment, Roller was accused of not reporting income on his workers compensation form when he filed for benefits from Oct. 29, 2007 to March 28, 2008. At the time, he was employed at the U.S. Postal Service when he filed his claim. He did not report that he was receiving income from his job as a fire chief of the Ward 4 Fire Protection District in the Jonesboro area. He also received income as owner of his fire services and vehicle manufacturing companies.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 2:01 PM EDT2013-06-18 18:01:27 GMT
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Monroe Police and Ouachita Parish Deputies continue to investigate multiple shootings, a murder and a weekend stabbing in the parish.
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Monroe Police and Ouachita Parish Deputies continue to investigate multiple shootings, a murder and a weekend stabbing in the parish.
Monday, June 17 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-06-17 23:20:46 GMT
DELHI, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Many expectant mothers make detailed plans of where and how they want to give birth, but sometimes even the most strategic planning, doesn't go as expected.
DELHI, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Many expectant mothers make detailed plans of where and how they want to give birth, but sometimes even the most strategic planning, doesn't go as expected.
Monday, June 17 2013 8:51 AM EDT2013-06-17 12:51:48 GMT
CARENCRO, La. (KNOE 8 News/AP) - Lafayette Parish sheriff's deputies are investigating the death of a 3-year-old boy found in his grandparents' swimming pool.
CARENCRO, La. (KNOE 8 News/AP) - Lafayette Parish sheriff's deputies are investigating the death of a 3-year-old boy found in his grandparents' swimming pool.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 1:23 PM EDT2013-06-18 17:23:16 GMT
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - The Monroe City School System spends nearly two times what the closest comparable school district does on central office expenses.
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - The Monroe City School System spends nearly two times what the closest comparable school district does on central office expenses.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 9:17 AM EDT2013-06-18 13:17:15 GMT
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says all facilities at DeGray Lake and at Lake Greeson in southwest Arkansas have been reopened.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says all facilities at DeGray Lake and at Lake Greeson in southwest Arkansas have been reopened.
