FBI Director Kash Patel announced Wednesday that a senior U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official has been charged with attempting to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and making false statements to federal investigators.
“Following efforts with our interagency partners, I can report that a career Director-level employee at US Customs and Border Protection has been charged with allegedly attempting to defraud FEMA, as well as lying to federal agents,” Patel wrote. “This is part of the new FBI’s renewed efforts to crack down on public corruption and deliver accountability for the American people.”
The Department of Justice identified the individual as 55-year-old Serina Baker-Hill, who served as Director of CBP’s Center for Excellence and Expertise over Automotive and Aerospace Engineering. According to the DOJ, Baker-Hill applied for FEMA assistance after severe flooding in Detroit in August 2023.
A FEMA inspector confirmed damage to her basement, and Baker-Hill claimed she could not safely reside in her home during repairs. She was subsequently approved for disaster relief funds, including two months of rental assistance. The approval letter specified that the funds were to cover rent and essential utilities while she was in temporary housing.
However, federal investigators discovered that Baker-Hill never used the FEMA funds for rent, hotel stays, or utility payments. Surveillance footage reportedly showed that she and her husband continued living in their home despite receiving FEMA assistance. Additionally, utility records indicated no significant decrease in usage, contradicting her claim of temporary relocation.
During questioning by FBI and CBP-Office of Professional Responsibility agents, Baker-Hill denied any wrongdoing and insisted she had never defrauded the government.
