HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Multiple victims of the May 16 storm tell Eyewitness News they’re still waiting on the FEMA money that was promised to them.

A tree brought down the brick wall that runs along a man’s northwest Harris County yard.

“I have a wall that’s knocked off. I got some holes in my roof,” Ron Hale, a victim of May’s severe storms across southeast Texas, said.

The winds toppled a fence in Kyndra Snoddy’s house.

Both Snoddy and Hale applied for and were approved for $750 in FEMA assistance in May.

But two weeks into June, they say they still haven’t received the money.

SEE ALSO: If FEMA’s assistance doesn’t arrive on time, what should you do during hurricane season?

“Just been calling and calling and calling the FEMA hotline. They’re really no help,” Snoddy said.

FEMA told Eyewitness News that the Texas Department of Health and Human Services is handling the payments. A call and email to the agency went unreturned Friday.

Meanwhile, at least one woman had no trouble getting FEMA money.

This week, Khalia Douglas pleaded guilty to filing eight fraudulent FEMA applications and a bunch of fraudulent PPP loan applications for herself and others.

The fraud totaled more than $500,000, although just over $350,000 was approved.

“People who are gaming the system, special place in – the downstairs place for those types of people,” Hale said.

Prosecutors say Douglas advertised what she was doing on Instagram and offered to do it for others for a fee.

“$100 upfront to process your application,” one post read.

A 2020 Department of Homeland Security audit found FEMA lost $3 billion to potential fraud from 2003 to 2018. That’s $200 million per year.

SEE MORE: FEMA facing $1.3B budget shortfall due to damaging weather in Houston and across US

It comes as the agency is forecasting a $6.2 billion deficit.

“You’re taking away from people who actually need the help,” Hale said.

Snoddy said she needs the help now even more than she did the day her fence came down. Not long after the storm, she lost her job.

“I’m looking for work right now, but in the meantime, I really do need the funds to help pay for the rent. The rent is behind,” Snoddy said.

Houston, TX (AP) — Alex Jones, a notorious conspiracy theorist, has been mandated to liquidate his personal assets to pay $1.5 billion in damages for his false claims about the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which resulted in the deaths of 20 first graders and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut.

The future of Jones’ Infowars media platform, which has been a financial powerhouse linking him to far-right figures, celebrities, and politicians, remains uncertain. On Friday, a federal bankruptcy judge ordered the asset liquidation and dismissed a separate bankruptcy case involving Infowars’ parent company, Free Speech Systems.

Despite predicting the imminent end of Infowars before the hearing, Jones seemed optimistic afterwards. He called into an Infowars show, declaring, “The bizarre political attempts to hijack the operation have failed,” while smiling as he exited the courthouse.

The legal battle over Jones’ assets escalated after he and Free Speech Systems filed for bankruptcy in 2022. This filing came after defamation lawsuit judgments by Sandy Hook victims’ families awarded them more than $1.4 billion in Connecticut and $49 million in Texas.

Background on Alex Jones and Infowars

Alex Jones, a Texas native known for his gravelly voice and bombastic style, has propagated numerous conspiracy theories, including claims about the 9/11 attacks and a purported U.N. depopulation effort. Jones began his career on a public-access television channel in the 1990s and later started Infowars after being fired from a local radio station. His media empire grew significantly, employing 60 people by 2010, and is supported largely by sales of dietary supplements.

Despite the massive debt, both Jones and the lawyers for the Sandy Hook families anticipate that Infowars may eventually cease operations.

The Sandy Hook Controversy

Shortly after the Sandy Hook shooting, Jones falsely claimed it was a hoax. This led to years of harassment for the victims’ families by people who believed his lies. In response, the families filed lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas. Jones acknowledged in 2022 that the shooting was real and that his hoax claims were “irresponsible.”

Jones’ Financial Situation

Court filings reveal Jones has about $9 million in personal assets, with his $2.6 million Austin home and some other belongings protected from liquidation. He has also begun selling his Texas ranch and other assets. The families have a pending lawsuit in Texas accusing Jones of illegally hiding millions of dollars, which he denies.

Future Prospects for Infowars

The fate of Free Speech Systems and Infowars is unclear. The Sandy Hook families could request the bankruptcy court to liquidate the company as part of Jones’ personal case. A trustee appointed in Jones’ bankruptcy case now controls his assets, including Infowars.

Chris Mattei, a lawyer for the families, stated that Infowars is “soon-to-be defunct,” calling Friday “a good day” for the victims’ families. However, Jones remains defiant, saying, “I have not given up. I’m fighting.”

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A deputy constable has been released from the hospital after being shot at by an armed theft suspect in northwest Harris County on Friday, according to authorities.

Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman said the suspect stole from two Academy Sports & Outdoors stores within an hour.

Herman said one of the stores is near the Willowbrook Mall, and the other is at Kuykendahl and the Grand Parkway.

The deputy constable, identified as Deteryon Fontonet, spotted the suspect’s vehicle and attempted to pull it over. The suspect led Deputy Fontonet on a chase that stopped in the 5300 block of Slashwood, according to Herman.

The suspect allegedly shot at the deputy constable before running into a relative’s house, according to the constable’s office. Herman said he counted 16 bullet holes in the deputy’s patrol unit.

Law enforcement surrounded the house and was able to take the suspect into custody on the lawn outside. A gun was recovered near the front door, which could be seen by SkyEye as it hovered overhead.

Herman said the deputy constable was taken to the hospital for injuries from shattered glass.

“Please pray for our Deputy Constable,” Herman said on social media.

Herman said the suspect’s family thanked deputy constables for not killing him after he was in custody.

“From what I’m hearing, (Fontonet) is going to be OK. He just needs surgery on his face. Good Lord was looking out for deputy,” Herman said.

By 8:40 p.m., Herman said Fontonet was out of the hospital.

“Deputy Fontonet will have follow-up doctor visits and will be resting at home,” Herman said.

Herman said the suspect is 23 years old but did not release a name.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — An escaped inmate who authorities say also tried to carjack a district attorney’s office employee at knifepoint was caught early Friday morning, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said.

At about 3 a.m., Nigel Thomas Sanders was captured at his mother’s home in the 1400 block of Force St. by the Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force in east Harris County, according to authorities.

There is no threat to public safety, the sheriff’s office said, adding that Sanders will face new charges of aggravated robbery and escape for Thursday’s incident.

Sanders is not the only person who will be charged.

ABC13 has learned two more people, identified as his mother and his sister, were arrested for hindering apprehension, officials said.

The sheriff’s office said during an update Friday morning that Sanders resisted arrest, so officials deployed a Taser and took him into custody. He’s being treated at the hospital.

Authorities added that they received multiple leads and several law enforcement agencies were involved in searching addresses for the suspect.

Sanders’ capture on Friday marked the end of a 12-hour search for a man authorities considered dangerous.

It all started around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, when the sheriff’s office received word of an escape, prompting the shutdown of the jail complex, HCSO Assistant Chief Philip Bosquez said.

An inmate count uncovered Sanders was missing. They believed he escaped from 1301 Franklin, which is the building adjacent to the criminal courthouse.

Bosquez said Sanders, who has a lengthy criminal history, was in court for three burglary counts and an unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon charge. After his hearing, Sanders was on his way to the jail when Bosquez said he “facilitated” the escape, even though HCSO didn’t mention specifics.

Sanders got to the building’s sallyport, where an employee was getting into her vehicle. Bosquez said there, he jumped in and held her at knifepoint. The woman crashed into several cars, and Sanders took off on foot again.

Bosquez could only say that Sanders got ahold of the knife outside of jail.

The University of Houston-Downtown earlier issued an alert to students and staff, warning them to “get indoors immediately,” “lock outside doors,” and “avoid windows.” UHD later said there was no longer an emergency, and the situation was cleared.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg also confirmed that the employee, held against her will, works in her office.