Lafayette woman pleads guilty to stealing nearly $1.5 million from Broussard business

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Lafayette woman pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing almost $1.5 million from a Broussard oilfield related company.

Susan M. Benoit, 54, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna to two counts of wire fraud. The plea will become final after it is accepted by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell. According to the guilty plea, Benoit worked for a Broussard, La., oilfield related company from 1998 to 2016. As the accountant and later as Chief Financial Officer, Benoit had access to the company’s bank accounts and transferred $1,490,588.70 from company accounts to her personal bank account.

Benoit faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture and a $250,000 fine. The court set April 10, 2018 as the sentencing date.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly P. Uebinger is prosecuting the case.