Serina Baker-Hill, a director at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Michigan, is facing allegations of defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following the destruction caused to her home by a series of floods in 2023.
On Wednesday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed a criminal complaint against 55-year-old Baker-Hill, accusing her of participating in a fraudulent scheme against FEMA and providing false information to federal authorities.
Baker-Hill, who holds a position as the director of CBP’s Center for Excellence and Expertise specializing in Automotive and Aerospace Engineering, is a long-serving employee within the organization.
“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,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X.
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection patch on the uniform of a Rio Grande Valley sector chief patrol agent for the U.S. Border Patrol. (CBP)
Records also did not show a significant drop in utilities that were consistent with the home being unoccupied during the time period, according to the DOJ.
Agents from the FBI and CBP Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) interviewed Baker-Hill, who denied committing a crime or defrauding the U.S. government.
The investigation is ongoing. Once complete, a determination will be made on whether to seek a felony indictment.
