Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Louisiana Women Plead Guilty to Disaster Relief Fraud Charges
Department of Justice ^ | July 10, 2009 | United States Attorney's Office Middle District of Louisiana

Posted on 07/10/2009 5:12:54 PM PDT by Larry381

BATON ROUGE, LA—United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced that two more Louisiana residents pled guilty in federal court yesterday to fraud charges related to hurricane disaster relief programs.

CHERYL M. TAYLOR, age 48, of Greensburg, Louisiana, pled guilty yesterday to a bill of information charging her with forgery against the United States, in violation of 18 United States Code, Section 495. According to the stipulated factual basis in the plea agreement, TAYLOR altered the face of a U.S. Treasury check that had been made out to her for disaster relief benefits in the amount of $1,425 so that it appeared to be payable in the amount of $11,425. TAYLOR knew that she was only entitled to $1,425. It was further stipulated that TAYLOR took the check to her bank and caused it to be deposited into her personal account, which was credited with a deposit of $11,425. The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. As a result of her guilty plea, TAYLOR faces a maximum sentence of ten (10) years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both.

VERONICA A. WILLIAMS, age 40, of Geismar, Louisiana, pled guilty yesterday to Count One of an indictment charging her with mail fraud in connection with the submission of a fraudulent application for Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance benefits. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. As a result of her guilty plea, WILLIAMS faces a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both. As part of the plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will dismiss Count Two of the indictment when WILLIAMS is sentenced on Count One.

The number of individuals who have been charged in the Middle District of Louisiana with violations related to hurricane disaster relief funds stands at one hundred seventy-five.

In September 2005, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales created the Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, designed to deter, investigate and prosecute disaster-related federal crimes such as charity fraud, identity theft, procurement fraud and insurance fraud. The Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force – chaired by the Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division – includes the FBI, the U.S. Inspectors General community, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Executive Office for United States Attorneys and others.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: fbi; katrinafraud

1 posted on 07/10/2009 5:12:54 PM PDT by Larry381
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Larry381
TAYLOR knew that she was only entitled to $1,425

I still don't know how anyone was entitled to a damn thing! Of course if you think you are entitled to $1,145 then I guess there is no reason to think you aren't entitled to $11,145.

2 posted on 07/10/2009 5:18:31 PM PDT by 11Bush
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Larry381

Call me when they prosecute the looting female cops.....


3 posted on 07/10/2009 5:19:02 PM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: Larry381
The number of individuals who have been charged in the Middle District of Louisiana with violations related to hurricane disaster relief funds stands at one hundred seventy-five.

Which might be one tenth of one percent of the actual number committing fraud.

5 posted on 07/10/2009 5:32:31 PM PDT by IronJack (=)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson