Two plead guilty to defrauding feds with phony claims that they lost homes in Camp Fire

Two men have pleaded guilty to filing false claims with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to receive payments following the devastating November 2018 Camp Fire.

Daniel Connelly, 55, of Forest Ranch pleaded guilty Thursday during a video appearance in Sacramento federal court to filing a false claim in January 2019 that stated a Paradise home that had been damaged by the blaze was his primary residence.

U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott’s office said the home actually was vacant at the time and listed for sale, and that Connelly was paid $2,663 in assistance for rent and personal property replacement.

A second man, Patrick Prigmore, 54, of Redding, pleaded guilty last week to fraudulently claiming FEMA funds for the same house Connelly had filed for, even though Prigmore had never lived there, the U.S. Attorney said.

Prigmore submitted phony utility bills as part of the scheme, officials said, and received $12,837 in payments.

Both men could face sentences of up to 30 years and fines of $250,000.

The Camp Fire was the deadliest in California history, killing 85 people and destroying 18,804 structures, Cal Fire says.