ABIGAIL JOHN, age 39, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged today in an eleven-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury for federal program fraud, embezzlement of federal program funds, wire and mail fraud, and money laundering , announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to the indictment, the Louisiana Veterans Research Education Corporation (LVREC), a non-profit corporation operating in New Orleans, received federal program funds from the Department of Defense, United States Army, to study the neuropsychological effects of military deployment in a large military group. The indictment alleges that beginning in approximately June, 2002 until September, 2006, ABIGAIL JOHN, who was employed as a bookkeeper/accountant for the LVREC, embezzled over $ 1,000,000.

Additionally, the indictment also alleges that JOHN used mail and wire communications to execute the scheme to defraud and deposited funds which she knew were derived as a result of the embezzlement into her money market account in Pennsylvania.

If convicted, JOHN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of $250,000.00, and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, as well as restitution and forfeiture of the proceeds of the crime as to Counts 1 and 8 through 11; and a maximum of twenty (20) years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and three (3) years supervised release following any term of imprisonment, as well as restitution and forfeiture of the proceeds of the crime as to Counts 2 through 7.

U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that these indictment are merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, the Defense Contract Audit Agency. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Carol Michel and Loan “Mimi” Nguyen.

(Download Indictment )

 

 

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