Local Resident Charged with Access Device Fraud

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that VINCENTIA ROQUES (“ROQUES”), age 40, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in a Bill of Information with Access Device Fraud.

According to documents filed in federal court, ROQUES worked part-time as a bookkeeper and office manager for several businesses located within the Eastern District of Louisiana. As the bookkeeper, ROQUES gained access to passwords and account numbers related to accessing bank accounts associated with each business. ROQUES also obtained direct access to financial account information and identifiers that permitted her to conduct unauthorized financial transactions with the money and credit accounts belonging to her employers.

The maximum penalty for access device fraud is ten years of imprisonment, and/or a fine of $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to the victim. 

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Investigative Service in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney, Richard R. Pickens, II is in charge of the prosecution.