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Woman Who Called Michelle Obama An 'Ape' Sentenced For Defrauding FEMA

A West Virginia woman who made headlines for racist comments about former First Lady Michelle Obama was sentenced to ten months in federal prison for defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 57-year-old Pamela Taylor pleaded guilty to falsely registering for more than $18,000 in disaster benefits after she claimed that her home was damaged by flooding in 2016.

She claimed that the damage to her home forced her to live in a rental property, but officials learned that she had never moved and was living in her undamaged home.

"Defrauding federal programs is always an egregious act," said Mark Tasky, special agent in charge, U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, in a statement. "Disaster relief fraud is even more serious because of the limited nature of the funds intended to assist Americans in their time of greatest need."

Taylor was also ordered to pay $18,149.04 in restitution and hit with a $10,000 fine. She will have to spend two months confined to her home after she is released from prison and will be under three years of supervised release.

Taylor was forced to resign from her job as director of the Clay County Development Corporation after she posted disparaging comments about Mrs. Obama on Facebook. After Donald Trump won the presidential election in 2016, Taylor wrote on Facebook: "It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House. I'm tired of seeing an Ape in heels."


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