Louisiana Man Faces 30 Years in Prison for Fraud and Money Laundering

Published December 23, 2021

Louisiana – CLARENCE “BILLY” BURKETTE, age 53, and a resident of Slaughter, Louisiana, was indicted on December 16, 2021, by a federal grand jury for multiple counts of wire fraud (Title 18, United States Code 1343), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. If found guilty he faces a potential term of thirty (30) years in prison, five (5) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1,000,000.

According to the indictment, BURKETTE defrauded the Town of Pearl River in connection with FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, which provides grant programs for state, territorial, tribal, and local governments, as well as certain types of non-profits, and is administered in Louisiana by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP). BURKETTE, the company hired to provide disaster relief to the Town of Pearl River, overstated the amount of public assistance grant funds available to the town, among other things.

BURKETTE also misled the Town of Pearl River by claiming that FEMA would reimburse his costs. BURKETTE billed the Town of Pearl River $629,761.25 for services he claimed to have done in connection with the Disaster Assistance Agreement, for which the Town of Pearl River paid BURKETTE a total of $598,196.25.

An indictment merely alleges the commission of a crime. Until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, the defendant is deemed innocent.

BURKETTE faces a potential term of thirty (30) years in prison, five (5) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and an obligatory special assessment fee if convicted on all counts.

U.S. Attorney Evans commended the special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and District Attorney’s Office, 22nd Judicial District for their handling of the matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andre Lagarde.