According to the Department of Justice, Taylor claimed her home was damaged by the floods and that she had to live in a rental unit. In reality, her home was undamaged and she had never moved, the Department of Justice said.
She pleaded guilty to embezzlement after an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security and the state Commission on Special Investigations revealed her home had not been damaged, the Huffington Post reported .
As part of a plea agreement on Tuesday, Taylor agreed to pay restitution of $18,149.04.
She faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of as much as $500,000 when shes sentenced in May.
"The flood was a natural disaster. Stealing from FEMA is a manmade disaster," U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart said in a statement published in the Department of Justice's press release. "Taylor's fraud scheme diverted disaster benefits from our most desperate and vulnerable, those most in need of help."
Special Agent in Charge Mark Tasky of DHS-OIG said in the Department of Justice's press release that taking advantage of funds "misappropriates taxpayer dollars, reduces monies available to true victims, and erodes public confidence in relief programs."
"In July 2016, after the good people of West Virginia were devastated by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides the month prior, the Defendant knowingly submitted a fraudulent application for disaster relief, in order to enrich herself and divert critical funds away from true disaster victims," Tasky said.
According to the Charleston Gazette-Mail, Taylor's information in Department of Justice documents matches the residency and name of the Pamela Taylor whowas ousted from her job as director of the Clay County Development Corporation in 2016, when she wrote a racist remark about then-first lady Michelle Obama on Facebook.
The comment came after President Donald Trump won the 2016 election, NBC News reported .
"It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House,"she said, apparently commenting on Melania Trump becoming first lady. "I'm tired of seeing a Ape in heels."