Customs and Border Protection official charged in FEMA fraud scheme

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Lauren Taylor Anchor/Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor/Reporter), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection official, Serina Baker-Hill, is charged with defrauding FEMA and lying to federal agents. The 55-year-old from Detroit applied for FEMA assistance after floods in August 2023.
Despite receiving funds for rent and repairs, an investigation suggests she didn’t spend the money on its intended uses.
While Baker-Hill denies wrongdoing, the investigation is ongoing, and potential felony charges are pending.

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A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official has been charged with engaging in a scheme to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and lying to federal agents, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Serina Baker-Hill, 55, of Detroit, is the director of CBP’s Center for Excellence and Expertise in Automotive and Aerospace Engineering.

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The DOJ alleges Baker-Hill applied for FEMA funds following floods that impacted the Detroit area in August 2023. A FEMA inspector reportedly visited her home and determined that her basement had been damaged. Baker-Hill allegedly told the inspector she could not live safely in her house while repairs were being made. As a result, FEMA approved her benefits for home repairs and rental assistance.

“The approval letter from FEMA indicated that the rental assistance money was to be used solely to help Baker-Hill pay rent and essential utility costs while she was in temporary housing,” a DOJ press release stated.

FBI investigators later discovered that Baker-Hill’s bank records allegedly show that the FEMA funds were not used for rent, hotel stays, or utility expenses.

Additionally, the DOJ cites footage from Baker-Hill’s home showing her and her husband living in the residence after receiving the FEMA funds.

“Additionally, records for the home do not show a significant drop in utilities consistent with the property being unoccupied during this time,” the DOJ release added.

The FBI, along with agents from the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility, interviewed Baker-Hill. She denied any wrongdoing and insisted that she did not defraud the U.S. government.

FBI Director Kash Patel released a statement on X, saying: “This is part of the new FBI’s renewed efforts to crack down on public corruption and deliver accountability for the American people. Justice will be done.”

The investigation is ongoing, and DOJ prosecutors will determine whether Baker-Hill will be indicted on felony charges.

Tags: FBI, FEMA, Fraud, Kash Patel, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Justice

A US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION OFFICIAL IS CHARGED WITH ENGAGING IN A SCHEME TO DEFRAUD THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA), AND LYING TO FEDERAL AGENTS, ACCORDING TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

SERINA BAKER-HILL IS 55 YEARS OLD, LIVES IN DETROIT AND IS THE DIRECTOR OF UNITED STATES CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION’S (CBP) AUTOMOTIVE AND AEROSPACE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE AND EXPERTISE.

THE DOJ SAYS BAKER-HILL APPLIED FOR FEMA FUNDS AFTER FLOODS HIT THE DETROIT AREA IN AUGUST 2023. A FEMA INSPECTOR ALLEGEDLY WENT TO HER HOME AND DETERMINED THERE WAS DAMAGE TO HER BASEMENT. BAKER-HILL TOLD THE INSPECTOR SHE COULDN’T LIVE SAFELY AT HER HOUSE WHILE REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE. FEMA APPROVED HER BENEFITS WHICH WERE ALLOCATED TO HOME REPAIRS AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

“THE APPROVAL LETTER FROM FEMA INDICATED THAT THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE MONEY WAS TO BE USED SOLELY TO HELP BAKER-HILL PAY RENT AND ESSENTIAL UTILITY COSTS WHILE SHE WAS IN TEMPORARY HOUSING,” A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE STATES.

THE FBI INVESTIGATED AND FOUND BAKER-HILL’S BANK RECORDS ALLEGEDLY SHOW THE FEMA MONEY WAS NOT USED FOR RENT, HOTEL STAYS OR UTILITY EXPENSES.

THE DOJ ALLEGES THERE’S VIDEO FOOTAGE AT BAKER-HILL’S HOME SHOWING THAT SHE AND HER HUSBAND CONTINUED TO LIVE IN THE HOME AFTER RECEIVING THE FUNDS FROM FEMA.

“ADDITIONALLY, RECORDS FOR THE HOME DO NOT SHOW A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN UTILITIES CONSISTENT WITH THE PROPERTY BEING UNOCCUPIED DURING THIS TIME,” THE DOJ’S RELEASE SAID.

THE FBI ALONG WITH CBP-OPR AGENTS INTERVIEWED BAKER-HILL AND SHE TOLD THEM THAT SHE NEVER COMMITTED A CRIME AND DID NOT DEFRAUD THE US GOVERNMENT.

THE FBI’S NEW DIRECTOR, KASH PATEL MADE A STATEMENT ON X SAYING: “THIS IS PART OF THE NEW FBI’S RENEWED EFFORTS TO CRACK DOWN ON PUBLIC CORRUPTION AND DELIVER ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. JUSTICE WILL BE DONE.”

THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING AND DOJ PROSECUTORS WILL DETERMINE IF BAKER-HILL WILL BE FELONIOUSLY INDICTED.