Two charged over Katrina aid theft

[TexasStooge]

DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) -- A Red Cross volunteer and his sister face federal charges for allegedly using stolen debit cards intended for hurricane evacuees to buy at least $230,000 worth of jewelry, clothing and vehicles.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Brian Oneal Hines and his sister, Charmaine Denise Hines, both of Dallas, surrendered to federal authorities Tuesday.

A Red Cross employee told investigators that he saw Hines keeping a list of numbers that the employee determined to be a list of missing debit cards.

In November, a U.S. Postal Inspector and a U.S. Secret Service agent interviewed Hines and he admitted using the stolen Red Cross debit cards. Hines said he stole at least 100 client assistance cards in October from various locations, including Reunion Arena in Dallas. He also confessed to activating and loading money on the cards.

Hines told authorities that he gave 20 to 25 cards to his sister and her boyfriend. Charmaine Denise Hines told authorities that she had used the cards to obtain cash.

[sunny]

And you want to know the sad part? I have a friend who HAD a house in on the beach in Waveland. Of course, the house is completely gone. He has yet to receive one dime from FEMA, his insurance company is fighting over whether the house was demolished by wind or flood damage, so he has not recieved anything from them either. Oh, did I mention he has a family to take care of? He has a little boy just a little over a year old and another one on the way. But these characters managed to get a hold of how many debit cards?

[terstorm1012]

that's a gosh darn shame! (Not the actual words I used, but I'm keeping it clean here!)

stuff like that makes me mad

[HurryKane]

Sunny, I have friends in the same situation. Those folks should be sentenced to trying to explain themselves to a big mob of hurricane victims who don't have a place to live.

[sunny]

Sunny, I have friends in the same situation. Those folks should be sentenced to trying to explain themselves to a big mob of hurricane victims who don't have a place to live.

Exactly. It's just stomach turning because they people who NEED the help cannot get it, but then you hear of all of the fraud cases and wonder what in the heck is going on.