Bradenton Woman Arrested for Filing False Hurricane Assistance Claim
A Bradenton woman is facing a felony charge after authorities discovered she used her mother’s identity to file a fraudulent hurricane disaster assistance claim. Veronica Torres, 44, was arrested on Friday and charged with filing a false public assistance claim, a third-degree felony.
The investigation revealed that Torres applied for approximately $7,967 from the City of Bradenton’s Hurricane Disaster Assistance Program. She alleged that she had been displaced from her home due to hurricane damage, using her mother’s name, driver’s license, and Social Security information to support the application. The request was approved.
The fraud unraveled on Thursday when Torres attempted to collect the funds. A city employee noticed discrepancies between Torres’s appearance and the identification provided with the claim. When questioned, Torres attributed the difference to cosmetic procedures but failed to convince the employee. She was asked to return the next day, and the Bradenton Police Department was contacted.
Torres returned as requested on Friday, where she was questioned by detectives and subsequently arrested. The case is now being handled by the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s 12th Judicial Circuit.
Authorities have emphasized the importance of safeguarding public resources and will continue to prosecute fraudulent claims aggressively.