Curtis Roller, 60, of Jonesboro, La., was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of supervised release after making false claims to receive federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
According the guilty plea, Roller submitted false information on a grant application on May 9, 2009 to FEMA so that the Jackson Parish Ward 3 Fire Protection District was eligible to receive federal funds, which could be used to purchase equipment from his company, Louisiana Firefighting Services. It is against FEMA rules and policies for a grant writer to financially benefit from money awarded.
Roller used federal funds to purchase equipment from his company, Louisiana Firefighting Services.
U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. also ordered Roller to pay $403,355 in restitution.