New Orleans Pair Plead Guilty To Bank Larceny in Theft of Over $200,000 Using Patient Information Stolen From Metairie Medical Clinic

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that BRANDON LIVAS, age 34 and ROYALE LASSAI, age 29, both from New Orleans, Louisiana pled guilty as charged to a one count Bill of Information Wednesday, July 3, 2019. They were charged in 2018 by a Bill of Information with Bank Larceny, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(b).  The third defendant, ASHLEY GREEN, age 36 is scheduled for a change of plea hearing in October 2019.

In papers filed with the court signed by LASSAI and LIVAS , they admitted that LASSAI was employed in a Metairie, Louisiana medical clinic.  LASSAI, without authority, obtained personal information of patients including dates of birth, social security numbers and addresses.  LASSAI sold the information to her cousin, GREEN who used this information to fraudulently obtain debit cards issued by the victim banks, Capital One and Whitney.  These fraudulently obtained cards were mailed to an address controlled by GREEN.  GREEN and LIVAS then used the cards to withdraw at least $200,000 from the victims’ accounts.  LASSAI was paid at least $1,000 to pilfer the patient’s information.

LIVAS and LASSAI face up to ten (10) years incarceration, a $250,000 fine, restitution and three (3) years supervised release. Sentencing is set for October 21, 2019.

U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service in investigating the matter. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice Jr.

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