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Clay woman pleads guilty to defrauding FEMA of $18K in flood relief
A Clay County woman who pleaded guilty Monday to defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency is the same woman who was fired from a county development agency in 2016 after making a racist Facebook post about then-U.S. first lady Michelle Obama.
Pamela Taylor, 57, admitted she took more than $18,000 in flood relief benefits. She falsely registered for FEMA benefits after the June 2016 floods that killed more than 20 West Virginians and destroyed numerous homes along the Elk River and elsewhere.
Taylor claimed that her primary residence had been damaged in the flood and that she was staying in a rental property. In fact, her primary residence was undamaged and she was still staying there, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart’s office.
In her plea agreement, Taylor agreed to pay restitution of $18,149.04. She faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 when she is sentenced on May 30 by U.S. District Judge Irene C. Berger.
Taylor’s name and residences match those of the Pamela Taylor who was suspended from her job as director of the Clay County Development Corporation after a November 2016 Facebook post in which she called Michelle Obama an “ape in heels.”
In the plea agreement, Taylor admitted to registering with FEMA on or about July 20, 2016 at Clay County High School.
She told FEMA representatives that her primary address was on Main Street in Clay and that her “permanent residence” on the Elk River in Procious was damaged by the flood. In fact, Taylor lived in Bickmore and her home was not affected by the flood. The Procious property was owned by Taylor and her husband but no one lived there at the time of the flood.
Taylor also admitted to giving officials her work address and telling them it was her primary address. The Clay County Development Corporation is located on Main Street in Clay.
Taylor was removed from the position in December 2016 after state officials reached an agreement with the agency’s board of directors. Officials from the Bureau for Senior Services said at the time the agency was not following nonprofit law. Her Facebook post was not mentioned as a reason for her dismissal.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FEMA and other agencies either could not or would not say that the woman who pleaded guilty Monday was the same woman removed from her position after the Facebook post. Taylor’s attorney, Tim Carrico, did not return a request for comment.
Clay woman pleads guilty to defrauding FEMA of $18K in flood relief
A Clay County woman who pleaded guilty Monday to defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency is the same woman who was fired from a county development agency in 2016 after making a racist Facebook post about then-U.S. first lady Michelle Obama.
Pamela Taylor, 57, admitted she took more than $18,000 in flood relief benefits. She falsely registered for FEMA benefits after the June 2016 floods that killed more than 20 West Virginians and destroyed numerous homes along the Elk River and elsewhere.
Taylor claimed that her primary residence had been damaged in the flood and that she was staying in a rental property. In fact, her primary residence was undamaged and she was still staying there, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart’s office.
In her plea agreement, Taylor agreed to pay restitution of $18,149.04. She faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 when she is sentenced on May 30 by U.S. District Judge Irene C. Berger.
Taylor’s name and residences match those of the Pamela Taylor who was suspended from her job as director of the Clay County Development Corporation after a November 2016 Facebook post in which she called Michelle Obama an “ape in heels.”
In the plea agreement, Taylor admitted to registering with FEMA on or about July 20, 2016 at Clay County High School.
She told FEMA representatives that her primary address was on Main Street in Clay and that her “permanent residence” on the Elk River in Procious was damaged by the flood. In fact, Taylor lived in Bickmore and her home was not affected by the flood. The Procious property was owned by Taylor and her husband but no one lived there at the time of the flood.
Taylor also admitted to giving officials her work address and telling them it was her primary address. The Clay County Development Corporation is located on Main Street in Clay.
Taylor was removed from the position in December 2016 after state officials reached an agreement with the agency’s board of directors. Officials from the Bureau for Senior Services said at the time the agency was not following nonprofit law. Her Facebook post was not mentioned as a reason for her dismissal.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FEMA and other agencies either could not or would not say that the woman who pleaded guilty Monday was the same woman removed from her position after the Facebook post. Taylor’s attorney, Tim Carrico, did not return a request for comment.
