Ten Alabamians arrested on charges related to fraudulent BP oil spill claims

Attorney general Luther Strange said in a statement today that 10 people were indicted Thursday, accused of theft and fraudulent claims related to the BP oil spill.

Strange says his office has been investigating these cases and presented their findings to a Mobile County grand jury in May. The defendants are accused of submitting false paperwork to BP saying they lost income because of the oil spill in 2010. Most ultimately received funding from BP as a result of their claims.

The individuals charged Monday are:

· Arthur Isham, 42, of Bayou La Batre, second-degree theft of property;

· Patrick Isham, 38, of Irvington, two counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument;

· Delisha Purdy, 37, of Theodore, first-degree theft of property, eight counts of first-degree criminal conspiracy to commit theft of property, three counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument;

· Jessica Verrett, 27, of Irvington, first-degree criminal conspiracy to commit theft of property; first-degree theft of property, and three counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument;

· Derek Strong, 43, of Irvington, first-degree criminal conspiracy to commit theft of property, first-degree theft of property, and three counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument;

· Rhonda Howard, 38, of Mobile, first-degree criminal conspiracy to commit theft of property, first-degree theft of property, and three counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument;

· Nicholas Graham, 36, of Mobile, first-degree criminal conspiracy to commit theft of property; first-degree theft of property, and three counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument;

· James Gibbons, 41, of Chickasaw, first-degree criminal conspiracy to commit theft of property, first-degree theft of property, and three counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument;

· Toni Strong, 25, of Theodore, first-degree criminal conspiracy to commit theft of property, first-degree attempted theft of property, and two counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument; and

· Marie Williams, 24, of Theodore, first-degree criminal conspiracy to commit theft of property, first-degree attempted theft of property, and two counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument.

If convicted, the defendants face potential penalties of two to 20 years imprisonment and fines of up to $30,000 for each count.

The Attorney General’s Office says the investigation is ongoing.