Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty to Misappropriating More Than $100K of a Military Veteran’s Funds

Louisiana – Sloane Signal-Debose, 51, of Slidell, Louisiana, pled guilty to misappropriating funds from a veteran while Signal was the veteran's fiduciary, according to U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

Signal was charged with misappropriation by a veteran's fiduciary in violation of Title 38, United States Code, Section 6101. According to court filings, from 2016 to 2018, Signal served as a fiduciary for a veteran who needed help managing his affairs, and he was in charge of the veteran's finances and bank accounts. During that time, Signal withdrew over $100,000 from the veteran's accounts and routed it through bank accounts in her own name, eventually using it as a down payment on a home in Signal's name exclusively. Signal also utilized more monies from the veteran to pay contractors working on Signal's house. Signal then provided fake documentation to the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to conceal her misappropriation of the veteran's cash.

Signal faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release after release, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or damage to any victims, and an obligatory $100 special assessment fee. The sentencing hearing has been scheduled on February 15, 2023, by Judge Sarah S. Vance.

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.

Related: Louisiana Woman Charged with Misappropriating Veteran’s Funds