TORIS YOUNG, age 40, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged today in a two count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury with Mail Fraud and Theft of Government Funds, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to the indictment, after Hurricane Katrina, YOUNG, as the pastor and representative of the Bible Way Baptist Church located in New Orleans, Louisiana, applied for an SBA loan on behalf of the church to repair and to rebuild the church. YOUNG submitted fraudulent documents to the SBA and eventually received $963,900 in SBA loan proceeds. YOUNG did not use those funds to repair or to rebuild the church.

YOUNG faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years as to the Theft of Government Funds charge and twenty (20) years as to the Mail Fraud charge, a fine of $250,000.00 and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment for each count.

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

The case is being investigated by the United States Small Business Administration-Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Loan “Mimi” Nguyen.

(Download Indictment )

 

 

 

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