Knew this would happen sooner or later

Disasters bring out slime like this one. How many good charities got hurt by this? Supper- Basil's Blog

MIAMI — An Aventura man was indicted on federal charges that he collected almost $40,000 in donations over the Internet by falsely claiming he was flying supplies to victims of Hurricane Katrina, federal authorities said Monday.

U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta said the indictment of Gary S. Kraser on four counts of wire fraud is the first by the federal government for Internet fraud stemming from Katrina.

According to prosecutors, Kraser opened the Web site http://www.AirKatrina.com Aug. 30 — one day after the Category 4 storm destroyed parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. On it he allegedly claimed that he and others were flying supplies to Katrina victims and that they needed help to pay for fuel.

"There were no flights," Acosta said. "In fact he didn't even have a pilot's license."

In one posting, prosecutors say Kraser wrote that as he flew over the area he saw people on their roofs waving for help, dogs being electrocuted as they swam into power lines and bodies floating in the water.

"I'm crying and hugging my dog next to me now," he allegedly wrote. "I will hear these screams the rest of my life."

The next day he claimed to have flown a 7-month-old girl out of the hurricane area for a transplant and that he had "tipped wings" as he flew over Air Force One.

When speaking on the telephone with one woman, he told her that he was in the cockpit of an airplane about to take off for Louisiana, the search warrant said.

After being interrupted by what appeared to be sounds from air traffic control, Kraser told the woman this would be his last flight unless more money was donated, according to the warrant.

Prosecutors say Kraser made no such flights. They said 48 people from around the world made donations to Kraser's site, with the money going to his bank account.

Kraser told investigators that the airplane sounds came from his computer, the warrant said.

Acosta said most of the money has been returned, but did not give further details.