KENNER WOMAN SENTENCED FOR DEFRAUDING THE LOUISIANA ROAD HOME PROGRAM
VANESSA JONES, age 56, a resident of Kenner, LA was sentenced in federal court today before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to five(5) years probation after pleading guilty to one count of making false statements to an agency of the United States, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition, JONES has been ordered to pay $149,934 in restitution to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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, an agency and department of the United States.
The case was investigated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Julia K. Evans.
