Chicago Man Accused of Claiming Cedar Rapids Residency to Claim Derecho Aid

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - A 23-year-old Chicago man is charged with derecho benefits fraud after being accused of claiming to be from Cedar Rapids.

A complaint in federal court says Tavonte Stewart applied for disaster benefits from FEMA following the August derecho storm.

He's accused of claiming a primary residence in Cedar Rapids when he was actually living in Chicago on supervised release for a felony counterfeiting conviction.

A property management firm says no one was living in the property at the time of the storm and it only sustained minor roof damage.

­Stewart has a detention hearing Wednesday and faces up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. He would also face five years of supervised release.

He initially appeared in court Monday.


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