A Louisiana woman pretended to feed children from low-income families with nutritious foods for years — but never did, according to prosecutors.
Authorities said she pocketed over $100,000 from reimbursement checks from the government.
Now, she’s going to prison.
Neiyondra Rogers from Greensburg, a town about 50 miles northeast of Baton Rouge, was sentenced to federal prison for theft of government funds, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana.
Rogers’ defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on May 2.
Starting in 2016, the 38-year-old joined the Child and Adult Care Food Program as a provider, court documents obtained by McClatchy News show. The federal program “provides reimbursements for meals and snacks served to eligible children and adults.”
As a provider, Rogers was required to feed children in her care with nutritious foods, prosecutors said. She could then submit reimbursement claims for her services to her sponsor, the Feliciana Day Care Home Agency, court documents show.
But prosecutors said Rogers never watched any children during her time as a provider nor did she provide any meals. Yet, the woman pocketed at least $31,224.17 after submitting fraudulent reimbursement claims, according to her plea agreement.
Rogers also helped others sign up to work for the program. These new providers also never cared for any children, but Rogers helped them submit false...
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