Bradenton woman arrested for fraudulent hurricane disaster assistance claim

Nov 16

November 16, 2024

Case #:2024-009221

The Bradenton Police Department has arrested a Bradenton woman who fraudulently applied for hurricane disaster assistance.

Veronica Torres, 44, is charged with filing a false public assistance claim, a third-degree felony.

Torres used her mother's name, driver's license, and social security information to apply for the City of Bradenton's Hurricane Disaster Assistance Program, claiming she was forced to move out of her home due to hurricane damage. Her request for approximately $7,967 was approved.

However, when Torres attempted to pick up the check on Thursday, November 14, a City of Bradenton employee noticed she looked much younger than the woman in the identification provided on the assistance application. After her explanation of “botox treatments” failed to convince the employee, Torres was asked to return the following day, and the Bradenton Police Department was notified.

When Torres returned on Friday, November 15, she was questioned by Bradenton Police detectives and subsequently arrested.