While many Schoharie Valley families were destitute after Hurricane Irene and sought assistance, Scott A. Clapper Jr. lied to get his, according to an indictment in federal court.
The Schoharie man, who's already serving time in state prison, now faces federal charges of disaster-related fraud.
Clapper, 30, is accused of providing fraudulent documents to receive aid after Irene in 2011.
Clapper was indicted in late May and was arraigned in Federal Court in Albany last Tuesday.
Thirteen different times he submitted false documentation to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the indictment claims.
Each time, Clapper claimed the rent where he lived in Westerlo, Albany County, was $1,200, when in fact his rent was $500, according to the indictment.
The documents Clapper filed were lease agreements, declarations for continuing need and rent receipts, according to the indictment.
". . .Scott A. Clapper, Jr. made false, fictitious and fraudulent statements, and made and used false writings and documents knowing the same to contain materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations. . ." the indictment reads.
Clapper also claimed he lived at a different address.
The incidents ranged from September 10, 2011 to August 1, 2012.
If convicted on each of the 13 counts, Clapper faces a maximum prison sentence of 30 years, a maximum fine of $250,000 and a maximum supervised release of five years.
Schoharie County Attorney Mike West, who's not involved with the case, said Clapper is not likely to get the maximum sentences if convicted.
The maximum penalties are for more severe frauds, such as scamming for more money, Mr. West said.
However, Clapper's situation is more complex. He is in the Bare Hill Correctional Facility in Malone after being convicted of second- and third-degree burglaries in Schoharie and Schenectady counties in early 2014. He has three years to go on his sentence.
Because Clapper's already convicted of felonies, "they're sure to be a little stiffer on him," Mr. West said.
"Federal courts are pretty strict. You hate to mess with the feds. There's not a lot of flexibility, and they don't fool around."
As Clapper was allegedly lying to get aid from FEMA, he also sought help from Schoharie Recovery, now SALT, right after Irene.
Clapper "and another woman would come and ask for and get donations," said Sarah Goodrich, SALT executive director. "I know that first Christmas, we did a lot for them."
She did not say Clapper's requests were fraudulent. At the same time, there wasn't enough manpower for background checks.
"We were not screening people that carefully," said Ms. Goodrich. "There was so much need and a lot of donations to give. We didn't have time to investigate."
Clapper's case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Michael Barnett.