State Attorney's Office teams up with law enforcement in Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties to go after storm-related crimes

Jacksonville, FL — As Northeast Florida regroups following Hurricane Irma, the Fourth Circuit State Attorney's Office wants residents to know, they're taking any storm-related crimes, seriously.

They've announced a team effort between their office and law enforcement in Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties, to go after anyone they believe was using Irma as an opportunity to commit crimes.

The State Attorney's Office says they're focusing specifically on crimes that occurred during the declared state of emergency that began Friday, September 8, and ended Tuesday, September 12.

That includes crimes like burglaries, fraud, exploitation, and other related crimes of opportunity.

State Attorney Nelson says she has assigned veteran attorneys in the office to handle these cases and she will personally oversee the prosecution of those crimes, saying, "During times of emergency, such crimes against the vulnerable cannot be tolerated."

She says they will fully pursue storm-related sentencing enhancements whenever possible.

If you believe you've been the victim of a storm-related crime, you're strongly encouraged to call the State Attorney's Office Human Rights Division hotline at (904) 255-3099, or use the electronic form at the office's website, at sao4th.com.

The announcement comes a few days after the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of a potential looter, who targeted a 7-Eleven in downtown.

We’re also seeing an effort to protect against fraud at a federal level.

The United State Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, which has offices in Jacksonville, has established a disaster fraud task force, as they encourage Floridians to be vigilant in reporting any suspected fraud.

“We will aggressively investigate and prosecute anyone who seeks to defraud or exploit the federal assistance programs established to help individuals, families, or businesses that have lost so much as a result of Hurricane Irma,” says Acting US Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow.

If you suspect any fraud, you can call the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud's hotline at (866) 720-5721. We're told the line is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also visit, www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl.