Woman From Louisiana Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay Restitution for Theft of Government Funds

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Neiyondra Rogers, age 38, of Greensburg, Louisiana, to 33 months in federal prison following her conviction for theft of government funds. The Court further sentenced Rogers to serve three years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment and ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $179,252.85 to the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program; $20,832 to the Small Business Administration (SBA); and $16,961 to the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

Rogers began participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program as a provider in January 2016, according to admissions made as part of her guilty plea. She was required by the program to feed the children in her care nutritious meals. She would have to submit reimbursement claims to her sponsor, Feliciana Day Care Home Agency, in order to be reimbursed for her services.

Although Rogers routinely submitted reimbursement claims, claiming that she had provided meals to children in her care, she never watched any children while participating in the program, and she never provided the meals reflected in her claims. The defendant was reimbursed at least $31,224.27 in federal funds from the Child and Adult Care Food Program based on the fraudulent claims she submitted.

Rogers discussed the program and her work with Feliciana Day Care Home Agency with other providers in addition to submitting fraudulent reimbursement claims. Rogers assisted these individuals in enrolling in the program, and she either submitted false reimbursement claims on their behalf or assisted them in submitting false reimbursement claims, resulting in the sponsor, Feliciana Day Care Home Agency, issuing the individuals reimbursement checks.

On numerous occasions, Rogers would collect reimbursement checks issued to people with whom she had discussions about the program and endorse them to herself, sometimes without their knowledge or consent. Rogers endorsed and cashed checks in the names of other providers totaling $91,635.34 in total. The money she stole belonged to the Child and Adult Care Food Program of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Finally, beginning in April 2020, Rogers submitted fraudulent claims to the Louisiana Workforce Commission (“LWC”) for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) and Disaster Unemployment Assistance (“DUA”). She received at least $16,951.00 in unemployment benefits that she was not entitled to as a result of these fraudulent claims. Rogers also applied for and received a loan through the Small Business Administration’s (“SBA’s”) Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) in March 2021. Rogers falsely represented in that application that she was the owner of a sole proprietorship engaged in the catering business when, in fact, no such business existed. As a result, the defendant received $20,832.00 in government funds to which she was not entitled.

U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. stated, “This defendant committed fraud in government programs intended for underprivileged children and those adversely affected by Covid-19. Prosecuting this type of fraud is a high priority of this office, and I want to thank our prosecutors and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in bringing this defendant to justice.”

“Neiyondra Rogers used funds designated for the USDA Summer Foods Service Program, which provides nutritional meals for children in low-income families, for her own personal expenses. Defrauding taxpayers and taking food out of the mouths of children who can’t provide for themselves is reprehensible,” said Douglas A. Williams, Jr., FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge. “I would like to thank our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office Middle District of Louisiana and Louisiana Office of Inspector General for their efforts in helping the FBI disrupt this type of fraud.”

Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street commented, “This is just the latest in a series of successful criminal cases where summer nutrition funds were stolen with no regard for the children they were intended to benefit. Neiyondra Rogers shamelessly broke the law out of pure personal greed, and today’s sentencing brings this sad episode to a just conclusion. We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to root out this corruption wherever it may be found.” Street added, “I want to thank United States Attorney Ron Gathe and his staff for their usual outstanding work, as well as our partners at the FBI.”

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Louisiana Office of Inspector General and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Craig.