Thibodaux Woman Charged with Wire Fraud While Holding Power of Attorney for Terminally Ill Mother and Theft of Government Check from Disabled Sister

Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JILL ANDRAS LEBLANC, a/k/a JILL FREMIN, 38, of Thibodaux, was charged yesterday in a Superseding Bill of Information with one count of wire fraud and one count of theft of government funds.

LEBLANC was originally charged by Indictment on July 21, 2017. The Indictment alleged LEBLANC stole several hundred thousand dollars from her mother's retirement account.  More specifically, LEBLANC was appointed power of attorney on October 29, 2008 for her mother who was terminally ill with cancer.  The defendant's father, an oil field worker, had accumulated a substantial individual retirement account (IRA) during his working life.  He passed away several years prior to 2011.  This investment account was managed by a national brokerage house whose home offices are in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  During the defendant's administration of her mother's account, she stole approximately $369,701 from the account and spent it on personal, frivolous items.

The Superseding Bill of Information filed today added a count alleging LEBLANC stole a Social Security disability check meant for her disabled sister in the amount of $13,500. 

If convicted, LEBLANC faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment on the wire fraud count, and/or a fine of $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release.  On the theft of government property, LEBLANC faces ten years imprisonment. Acting U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a Bill of Information is merely a charge and the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation in investigating this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. of the Fraud Unit is in charge of the prosecution.