Skip to main content
Press Release

Former Desoto Parish District Attorney’s Office employee indicted for stealing fees

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

SHREVEPORT, La. Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a federal grand jury indicted a Converse woman for seven counts of mail fraud.

 

Melanie Barber, 35, of Converse, La., was employed by the Desoto Parish District Attorney’s office from April 2002 until February 2014. From at least 2004 to 2014, she negotiated money orders made payable to and intended for the Desoto Parish District Attorney’s Office.  The money orders were collected by worthless checks and diversion fees but negotiated by Barber at several local banks and retailers for her personal use.

 

 Barber faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine per count. She also faces forfeiture.

 

The FBI and the Mansfield Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike O’Mara is prosecuting the case.

           

An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Updated October 26, 2017

Topic
Financial Fraud