U.S. Attorney Peter Strasser announced that 49 YO Kelly Guathier, a resident of Covington, pleaded guilty on December 9, to one count of Theft of Government Funds.
According to the Bill of Information to which Gauthier pled guilty, she filed an application with FEMA on or about March 14, 2016, following severe storms and flooding across Louisiana. Gauthier claimed that she needed assistance due to her ownership and occupancy of a home where she was living. In order to show her purported ownership of the home, Gauthier submitted fraudulent supporting documentation. Gauthier was issued a total of $29,075.56 in FEMA assistance, including assistance for home repairs, rental assistance, transportation, and personal property. Gauthier faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and more.
Gauthier’s sentencing hearing is scheduled before the Honorable U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman on March 10, 2021.
