Man held for fake Katrina fund

2005-10-04 14:58

Miami - United States authorities said on Monday they arrested a man who allegedly ran a fake charity for Hurricane Katrina victims by claiming he was airlifting emergency supplies and evacuating sick children from affected areas.

The scam allegedly earned Florida resident Gary Kraser $40 000 in charitable donations, according to the US state attorney's office in Miami.

Kraser used a website to claim he and other compassionate Florida pilots were flying volunteer missions to Louisiana, and needed more funds to continue delivering medical supplies and evacuating sick children.

"I saw people on their roofs waving at us as if we were Air Rescue. I will hear these screams for the rest of my life," Kraser said in one appeal for donations, according to his indictment.

In a blog meant as a diary of his missions of mercy, he claimed he spotted Air Force One over Louisiana and tipped the wings of his aircraft to salute the US president.

But authorities say Kraser made the whole thing up and doesn't even have a pilot's licence.

"It is simply unconscionable and intolerable that anyone would seek a personal financial benefit from the horrible human tragedy caused by Hurricane Katrina," said US attorney Alexander Acosta.

Kraser could face up to 20 years behind bars if he is found guilty on all four counts of wire fraud, Acosta said at a news conference in Miami.

Authorities said several other Katrina charity fraud cases were being investigated.

- AFP