Louisiana Woman Charged with Misappropriating Veteran’s Funds

Louisiana – On May 23, 2022, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Sloane Signal-Debose, age 51, a resident of Slidell, was charged on May 23, 2022 with misappropriating funds from a veteran while Signal was the veteran’s fiduciary.

Signal was charged with misappropriation by a veteran’s fiduciary in violation of Title 38, United States Code, Section 6101. According to the bill of information, Signal was a fiduciary for a veteran who needed help managing his affairs from 2016 to 2018, and she had control over the veteran’s finances and bank accounts. During that time, Signal took over $100,000 from the veteran’s accounts and used it as a down payment on a house in Signal’s name only. Signal also used the veteran’s extra funds to pay contractors working on his house. Signal then submitted false records to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs in order to conceal her misappropriation of veteran’s funds.

U.S. Attorney Evans emphasized that a bill of information is only a charge and that the defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Signal faces up to five years in prison if convicted. Signal could also face up to three years of supervised release after being released from prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss to any victims, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

The work of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General was lauded by U.S. Attorney Evans. The prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas D. Moses.