JUST IN: Kash Patel Announces Charges Against Top U.S. CBP Official

A high-ranking official within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been charged with allegedly defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and lying to federal investigators, according to an announcement by FBI Director Kash Patel.

In a statement posted on social media Wednesday morning, Patel confirmed that a career director-level CBP employee had been charged as part of the FBI’s renewed focus on cracking down on 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,” he finished.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, Serina Baker-Hill, 55, of Detroit, was charged in a federal criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday. Baker-Hill served as the Director of CBP’s Center for Excellence and Expertise over Automotive and Aerospace Engineering, a position that oversees significant trade and enforcement operations.

The charges stem from an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain FEMA assistance following severe flooding in the Detroit area in August 2023. Michigan’s request for federal disaster relief was approved, allowing eligible residents to apply for financial aid.

Baker-Hill reportedly applied for FEMA assistance, claiming that flood damage to her home rendered it unlivable. A FEMA inspector confirmed damage to her basement and, based on Baker-Hill’s statements, approved financial aid for home repairs and two months of rental assistance.

However, investigators say that Baker-Hill never used the FEMA money for rent or utilities while supposedly living in temporary housing. Bank records reviewed by authorities reportedly show that Baker-Hill did not use any of the FEMA funds for 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 surveillance from the home allegedly shows Baker-Hill and her husband continued to reside at the property after receiving FEMA assistance. Investigators also noted that utility records did not indicate a significant drop in usage, which would have been expected if the home had been unoccupied.

When questioned by FBI and CBP agents, Baker-Hill denied any wrongdoing, stating that she had never engaged in illegal activity or defrauded the U.S. government.

Acting U.S. Attorney Julie A. Beck emphasized that Baker-Hill has only been charged via a complaint, meaning the case is still under investigation. A trial cannot proceed on felony charges based solely on a complaint, and prosecutors will determine whether to seek a felony indictment.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Detroit Border Corruption Task Force and CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), with additional support from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton P. Brown is leading the prosecution.

This comes as the FBI, under Patel’s leadership, has intensified its focus on rooting out corruption within federal agencies. If convicted, she could face significant fines and prison time for defrauding a federal agency and lying to investigators.