A senior official at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been charged with allegedly defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and providing false statements to federal investigators, according to an announcement Wednesday by FBI Director Kash Patel. In a social media post Wednesday morning, Patel confirmed that a career director-level CBP employee was charged as part of the FBI’s intensified efforts to combat public corruption.
“This is part of the new FBI’s renewed efforts to crack down on public corruption and deliver accountability for the American people,” Patel wrote, thanking the Justice Department, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the FBI’s Detroit Field Office for their work on the case. “Justice will be done.” A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan stated that Detroit resident Serina Baker-Hill, 55, was charged in a federal criminal complaint unsealed on Wednesday. Baker-Hill served as the Director of CBP’s Center for Excellence and Expertise in Automotive and Aerospace Engineering, overseeing major trade and enforcement operations.
The charges arise from an alleged scheme to fraudulently secure FEMA assistance after severe flooding hit the Detroit area in August 2023. Michigan’s federal disaster relief request was approved, enabling eligible residents to apply for financial aid. Baker-Hill reportedly applied for FEMA assistance, claiming that flood damage had rendered her home unlivable. A FEMA inspector verified damage to her basement and, based on her account, approved aid for home repairs as well as two months of rental assistance.
However, investigators contend that Baker-Hill never applied the FEMA funds toward rent or utility bills while she was allegedly residing in temporary housing. Authorities reviewed her bank records, which reportedly show that none of the FEMA money was spent on rental, hotel, or essential utility expenses.
Serina Baker-Hill, Assistant Director of @CBP’s Automotive and Aerospace Center provides welcoming remarks at Detroit #TradeWeek pic.twitter.com/FsGSqC44IA
— DFO Marty C. Raybon (@DFODetroit) August 3, 2021
Video footage allegedly shows Baker-Hill and her husband remaining at the property even after receiving FEMA funds. Investigators also noted that utility records did not show a significant decline in usage—an expected sign if the home had been vacant. When questioned by FBI and CBP agents, Baker-Hill denied any misconduct, asserting she had never engaged in illegal activities or defrauded the U.S. government.
Acting U.S. Attorney Julie A. Beck emphasized that Baker-Hill has been charged through a complaint, which means the case remains under investigation. Under felony charges, a trial cannot proceed solely based on a complaint, and prosecutors will decide whether to seek a felony indictment.