U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Houma Woman Sentenced for Theft of Government Funds
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that NICOLE COCKERHAM (“COCKERHAM”), age 43, of Houma, Louisiana, was sentenced on October 18, 2022 for Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.
According to documents filed in federal court, from March 2019 to July 2020, COCKERHAM knowingly converted approximately $38,851.00 in Social Security Administration and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES ACT”) funds.
United States District Judge Wendy D. Vitter sentenced COCKERHAM to three (3) years probation, restitution in the amount of $37,651.00 to the Social Security Administration and $1,200.00 to the Internal Revenue Service, 100 hours of non-paid community service, and payment of a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, and the United States Department of Treasury, Inspector General for Tax Administration, in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Updated October 19, 2022
Topics
Coronavirus
Financial Fraud
Component