VANESSA JONES, age 56, a resident of Kenner, Louisiana, pled guilty in federal court today before U. S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to one count of making false statements to an agency of the United States, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to court documents, prior to and during the time of Hurricane Katrina, JONES resided at 727 Clay Street in Kenner, Louisiana. On or about September 6, 2006, JONES applied for funds from the Louisiana Road Home program claiming her primary residence at the time of the storm was at 321 Fortier Street in Kenner, a property she knew was uninhabitable before the storm. As a result of her false statements in her application, JONES fraudulently received approximately $149,934 from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), an agency and department of the United States.

Upon sentencing, scheduled for December 15, 2011, JONES faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a $250,0000 fine, restitution to HUD, and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney Julia K. Evans.

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