A man from East Hollywood was sentenced to 1 year and 1 day in prison on Friday (31st) for falsely claiming that his property was damaged in the January wildfires in Los Angeles County last year and fraudulently receiving over $64,000 in federal disaster relief funds.
32-year-old Delvonne Johnson was also ordered by the court to repay $64,148 to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Johnson pleaded guilty in federal court in downtown Los Angeles last year to a fraud charge related to a major disaster or emergency relief benefit.
According to regulations, victims of the 2025 Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire (including tenants who lost their homes) could apply for a one-time $750 FEMA emergency relief fund, up to $43,600 in other assistance, and housing assistance for up to 18 months based on different criteria. Property owners could also apply for an additional $43,600 in home repair assistance.
Federal prosecutors stated that Johnson submitted a FEMA relief application related to the Palisades Fire in February 2025, falsely claiming to own a residence in Pacific Palisades and using that address for disaster assistance. Later that month, FEMA disbursed $64,138 in federal disaster relief funds to him.
Court documents revealed that law enforcement officers visited the actual homeowner of the property on April 2, 2025. The homeowner stated that she had been residing there since 2015, making it her primary residence; she was also living there when the Palisades Fire occurred.
Prosecutors further emphasized that the homeowner stated she had never rented out the property to anyone and did not know Johnson. She also mentioned that when she reported to FEMA that her house had been destroyed and applied for disaster assistance, she was informed that someone else had already applied for aid using her property.
The Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire that broke out on January 7, 2025, collectively burned nearly 60,000 acres of land, destroyed over 16,000 buildings, and resulted in 30 fatalities.