A Plaquemine woman was sentenced to 44 months in federal prison after her conviction for mail fraud in connection with submitting thousands of dollars in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program and unemployment claims.
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced 28-year-old Lestreonia Renee Rodrigue to the federal prison term as well as three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $663,259 in restitution.
According to a news release, between July 2020 and September 2021, Rodrigue submitted fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits in California in her name and in the names of other individuals. Rodrigue also submitted fraudulent claims for PPP benefits in the names of fictitious businesses and based on fictitious business profits and losses.
Through the unemployment insurance scheme, Rodrigue falsely claimed that she and others were working in California prior to the pandemic and that they lost their employment due to it.
The released stated Rodrigue obtained names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers of others and submitted fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits in their names, with and without their knowledge. She reportedly captured people’s identifying information through social media.
Upon submitting the claims and receiving the funds, she either gave a portion of the funds to others or kept all the funds for herself.
Through the scheme, Rodrigue fraudulently obtained...
When a company promises to save the planet by 2050, it sounds reassuring. But what if that promise comes with no real plan, no credible evidence, and no accountability? A sweeping new study reveal...