Texas Woman Sentenced Over Eaton Fire, Covid US Relief Fraud

A Texas woman was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $80,000 from the federal government by falsely claiming she was affected by the Eaton Fire and the Covid-19 pandemic, the US Department of Justice said Wednesday.

Joyce Turner, a 56-year-old woman from Rosharon, Texas, was accused of obtaining $28,000 in federal disaster relief money by falsely claiming to be a Pasadena, Calif. resident affected by the Eaton Fire, and for fraudulently obtaining more than $54,000 in jobless benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Turner pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of fraud in ...