Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft in Connection with Stealing Patient Information

Louisiana – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced on October 13, 2022, that Raychael Depland, age 33, of New Orleans, Louisiana plead guilty today to Identity Theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028(a)(7).

According to documents filed in federal court, Depland, while working as a patient access representative at University Medical Center in New Orleans, sent personal information of UMC patients to Acia Gray, who, along with others, used this information in a check cashing scheme at Wal-Mart stores, primarily in Texas. Gray and other members of this check cashing scheme were charged and convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 1349 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, and Gray received a sentence of 4 years, 9 months imprisonment.

Depland faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment charge.

Sentencing, in this case, is set for March 2, 2023, before Chief United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown.

The United States Attorney’s Office would also like to thank the United States Department of Treasury, Inspector General for Tax Administration, for its cooperation in investigating this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.