Investigators: Orange Co. man collects thousands in fraudulent Sandy claims

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Federal paperwork accuses a Winter Garden man of faking an application to get disaster aid after Hurricane Sandy, which walloped New York and New Jersey in 2012.

Keith Greenwood was indicted by a federal grand jury for wire and mail fraud, and false claims after he submitted paperwork that said his property was damaged.

The indictment claims Greenwood called FEMA after the storm and said his primary residence was in Kings County, New York.

He was able to reel in more than $17,000 in federal money.

Greenwood only owned a rental property in New York, however, and didn’t live there full-time, which made him ineligible for the funds.

“I think that’s something else. But you know what? That’s government spending at its best,” said neighbor Torrie Woods.

Greenwood managed to get through the application process and had the money wired to his bank.

“This is what happens when they just divvy out money and they don’t even know what they’re divvying it out for,” Woods said.

The paperwork also said Greenwood went so far as to send the government false and fictitious receipts that claimed he had contractor work done.

WFTV