FBI Charges High-Ranking CBP Official in Major FEMA Fraud Case
A senior U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official has been charged with allegedly defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and making false statements to federal agents, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
Patel announced the charges in a social media post Wednesday, describing the case as part of a broader effort to crack down on public corruption.
“Following efforts with our interagency partners, I can report that a career Director-level employee at U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been charged with allegedly attempting to defraud FEMA, as well as lying to federal agents,” Patel wrote on X.
A federal criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday accuses Serina Baker-Hill, 55, Director of CBP’s Center for Excellence and Expertise over Automotive and Aerospace Engineering, of fraudulently obtaining FEMA assistance following severe flooding in the Detroit area in August 2023, according to a press release.
The document states that Michigan received a federal disaster declaration after the flooding, allowing residents to apply for FEMA assistance. Baker-Hill submitted an application, claiming her basement had suffered flood damage.
A FEMA inspector later confirmed the damage and based on her statement that she could not safely live in her home during repairs, FEMA approved two months of rental assistance.
However, FEMA funds were specifically intended for rent and essential utilities during the period of displacement. According to financial records cited in the complaint, Baker-Hill did not use any of the FEMA money for rent, hotel stays or utility payments.
As investigators gathered evidence, federal agencies moved to take action.
Authorities reviewed video surveillance footage of Baker-Hill’s home, which allegedly showed her and her husband continuing to live there after receiving FEMA rental assistance. Additionally, utility records showed no significant drop in usage, contradicting claims that the home was unoccupied.
The charges were announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Julie A. Beck, alongside Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office and Daniel Altman, Executive Director of CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
Patel has emphasized efforts to combat “public corruption” since taking office. His latest statement signals a push for greater accountability across federal agencies.
“This is part of the new FBI’s renewed efforts to crack down on public corruption and deliver accountability for the American people. Justice will be done,” Patel wrote on X.
Baker-Hill was later questioned by FBI and CBP-OPR agents, during which she denied any wrongdoing.
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Detroit Border Corruption Task Force and CBP-OPR, with additional support from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton P. Brown is prosecuting the case.
The document notes that a criminal complaint is a formal charge and is not proof of guilt, stating that prosecutors will decide whether to seek a felony indictment as the case progresses.
CBP has not issued a statement regarding Baker-Hill’s employment status or whether she has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the case.
The allegations against Baker-Hill come at a time when federal agencies face increasing scrutiny over internal oversight and fraud prevention efforts. In recent years, both CBP and FEMA have been under pressure to strengthen safeguards against the misuse of taxpayer funds.
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