In a massive blow to the deep state, Serina Baker-Hill, a senior official with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, was slammed with an indictment for defrauding FEMA and lying to investigators. She allegedly claimed $6,315 in disaster relief for her Detroit home after local flooding in 2023, falsely stating it was uninhabitable.
For context, the major fraud was discovered during an FBI probe into her husband’s drug trafficking. The swamp creature faces charges of wire fraud, false statements, and disaster fraud, potentially leading to stiff penalties.
Reacting to the case on social media, FBI Director Kash Patel said on March 12, 2025, “TODAY: Following efforts with our interagency partners, I can report that a career Director level employee at US Customs and Border Protection has been charged with allegedly attempting to defraud FEMA, as well as lying to federal agents.”
Concluding his post, Patel added, “This is part of the new FBI’s renewed efforts to crack down on public corruption and deliver accountability for the American people. Justice will be done. Thanks to our partners @AGPamBondi @TheJusticeDept and our @FBIDetroit team for their work.”
Adding context in an official document, the DOJ explained, “A federal criminal complaint was unsealed today charging the Director of United States Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Center for Excellence and Expertise over Automotive and Aerospace Engineering with engaging in a scheme to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and lying to federal agents, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced.”
Describing the scope of the investigation, it revealed, “Beck was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Daniel Altman, Executive Director of CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).”
Cataloguing her fraud, the DOJ stated, “Serina Baker-Hill, 55, of Detroit, is a career employee of CBP. Following a series of floods in the Detroit area in August of 2023, Michigan’s request for a federal disaster declaration was approved, which allowed residents to apply for FEMA assistance. Baker-Hill applied for FEMA assistance for flood damage and a FEMA inspector determined there was damage to the basement in Baker-Hill’s home.”
"*" indicates required fields
Going into more detail, the document said, “During the inspection, Baker-Hill informed the inspector she was not able to live safely in the home while the repairs were being made. Consequently, FEMA approved benefits for Baker Hill to assist with home repairs and for two months of rental assistance. The approval letter from FEMA indicated that the rental assistance money was to be used solely to help Baker-Hill pay rent and essential utility costs while she was in temporary housing.”
Explaining how the corrupt official was caught, the DOJ revealed, “According to Baker-Hill’s bank records, none of the FEMA money was used for rental, hotel, or utility expenses. Video surveillance at the home showed that Baker-Hill and her husband continued to live in the home after receiving the rental assistance funds from FEMA. Additionally, records for the home do not show a significant drop in utilities consistent with the property being unoccupied during this time.”