Couple claimed to be Hurricane Katrina victims
MID-CITY — Two people were arrested on Monday for allegedly bilking the Santa Monica Red Cross chapter out of nearly $1,000 by posing as Hurricane Katrina victims.
Laurette Ollar Karaba, 32, a transient, and Derrek Wilkerson, 37, of Canoga Park, were arrested for burglary, grand theft, obtaining money under false pretense, conspiracy and probation violation. They are currently being held in the Santa Monica Jail, according to Santa Monica Police Lt. Frank Fabrega.
Santa Monica Red Cross officials called the SMPD on Monday after they were tipped off by an anonymous source who was staying at the Travelodge on Pico Boulevard, alleging that the pair might not be legitimate hurricane victims.
“We received information from someone in the same hotel that made us seriously question whether they were victims,” said John Pacheco, executive director of the American Red Cross of Santa Monica.
A preliminary investigation indicates that Karaba collected $705 from the Red Cross, as well as a hotel voucher after telling officials on Sept. 14 that she had just arrived in Santa Monica from Louisiana, where she was a traveling nurse and was displaced because of the hurricane, Fabrega said.
She received a voucher from the Red Cross for $665 for two weeks of residency at the Travelodge.
Red Cross policy requires that potential clients present identification, with their zip codes then being matched up with a national database to determine if their area was affected by a disaster.
“They had given us enough information not to second-guess it, and if we hadn’t been tipped off, I doubt we would have looked into it any further,” Pacheco said. “Given the national policy, we gave them the benefit of the doubt.”
Pacheco added that 95 percent of clients provide adequate information and identification. Karaba fell into the 5 percent who didn’t, but she still had represented herself as a victim adequately enough for Red Cross officials to deem she needed assistance.
The Santa Monica chapter has opened 150 cases, which includes 195 displaced persons. Those cases represent 100 families, couples or individuals that have relocated to the Santa Monica area and have turned to the local chapter for aid and services.
“The chapter has found hotels or motels for 55 families and has issued $78,350 in direct financial aid to displaced persons for food, clothing, medicine, housing expenses and other necessities,” Pacheco said.
Thirty children have been helped locally and the other families not staying in hotels are with family and friends. Nearly 95 percent of them say they plan to stay in Los Angeles, Red Cross officials said.
Local contributions through the Santa Monica chapter, as of Monday, amounted to $693,000. The money raised locally goes to food and shelter, medical and mental health services, and direct financial support for the more than 2.8 million families in 902 Red Cross shelters and other lodging scattered in 40 states.
Nationally, the American Red Cross has received $933.9 million, including pledges, and still estimates that $2 billion will be needed for disaster relief in the months ahead. More than 500,000 families have received financial aid and another 400,000 are expected to receive assistance in the weeks to come.
The Santa Monica chapter has processed 1,024 new volunteers and 700 volunteers have or are completing training to go to the disaster area to work in relief efforts in shelters and service centers. Sixty-four people have been called to disaster relief locations — primarily in the Gulf area — where the Red Cross has the majority of its shelters and service centers.
About 100 volunteers are working locally in the Santa Monica chapter’s offices, working directly with clients, answering phones, doing data entry and providing support where needed.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 28, 2005. Read the original PDF.