FL Woman Fraudulently Applied For Hurricane Disaster Claim: Police

BRADENTON, FL — A Bradenton woman was arrested for fraudulently applying for hurricane disaster assistance, authorities said,

Veronica Torres, 44, was charged with filing a false public assistance claim, a third-degree felony, according to a Bradenton Police Department news release.

Torres used her mother's name, driver's license and social security information to apply for the
city of Bradenton's Hurricane Disaster Assistance Program, claiming she was forced to move
out of her home due to hurricane damage, police said.

Her request for approximately nearly $8,000 was approved by the city.

When Torres tried to pick up the check on Thursday, a city employee noticed she looked younger than the woman in the identification provided on the assistance application.

After her explanation of “botox treatments” failed to convince the employee, Torres was asked to return the following day and police were notified.

When she returned Friday, she was questioned by detectives and arrested, the agency said.