Husband and wife plead to conspiring to steal money from federal housing program
LAWRENCE WILSON, age 43, and PEGGY BOUDREAUX WILSON, age 47, residents of Waggaman, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to a one-count bill of information today for conspiracy to steal government funds, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the court documents, on November 1, 1999, the Jefferson Parish Housing Authority (JPHA) awarded PEGGY BOUDREAUX WILSON, then known as Peggy Boudreaux, rental assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher Program, a federally funded housing program assisting low-income citizens with rental payments, for a property located on Herman Street in Waggaman, Louisiana. On or about February 17, 2001, PEGGY BOUDREAUX WILSON married LAWRENCE WILSON. Despite her marriage, PEGGY BOUDREAUX WILSON continued to represent herself to the JPHA as Peggy Boudreaux and did not divulge to the JPHA that after she and LAWRENCE WILSON were married he moved into the residence on Herman Street thereby increasing the annual income for her household.
On or about April 6, 2005, LAWRENCE WILSON purchased the residence on Herman Street and received financing from a bank. However, instead of informing the JPHA of the change in circumstances, PEGGY BOUDREAUX WILSON and LAWRENCE WILSON represented to JPHA that LAWRENCE WILSON was “Peggy Boudreaux’s” landlord. PEGGY BOUDREAUX WILSON and LAWRENCE WILSON signed landlord information forms and submitted them to JPHA indicating that “Peggy Boudreaux” and her son were the only tenants. Until September 28, 2010, the WILSONs concealed that LAWRENCE WILSON did not rent to PEGGY BOUDREAUX WILSON, but that he owned the house and lived there with her. The total amount of loss they are responsible for is not less than $40,000 but not more than $70,000.
Each defendant faces a maximum of five (5) years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000. Upon release from any term of imprisonment, each defendant is subject to up three (3) years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security-OIG.
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