Four people were arrested for allegedly posing as victims of the gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, Calif., in an attempt to take advantage of the aid that is being provided to those affected by the disaster, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Thursday.
The suspects allegedly submitted applications for driver’s licenses and falsely claimed that they lived in the area where four people were killed and 37 homes were destroyed on Sept. 9.
Had their scheme succeeded, they could have received free cell phones and gift cards from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and local clothing and grocery stores.
Niesha Taylor and Deonte Bennett, of San Francisco, and Sonya Smith and Lisa Justin, who live at a San Bruno home three miles from where the explosion occurred, were all arrested Tuesday. They have been booked in San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of burglary, perjury and submitting false or forged documents to a government agency, the Chronicle reported.
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