Skip to main content
Press Release

Marrero Homeowner Pleads Guilty to Theft of $50K in Home Elevation Grant Funds

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that CINDY DANDRIDGE, age 43, of Marrero, pled guilty today to theft of government funds.

According to court documents, DANDRIDGE owned a home in Marrero. In September and October 2010, DANDRIDGE executed application documents with the Home Elevation Mitigation Grant Program (“HMGP”), with the understanding that the grant monies would be used to elevate her home.

In January 2011, DANDRIDGE received federal HMGP grant monies totaling $50,000 and deposited these federal funds into her personal bank accounts. However, instead of using the monies to elevate her home, DANDRIDGE used the grant monies to pay for personal expenses. 

The maximum penalty for theft of government funds is ten years 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. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon set sentencing for April 13, 2016. 

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II is in charge of the prosecution.

Updated January 7, 2016

Topic
Financial Fraud