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U.S. Department
of Justice
United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: KATHY COLVIN |
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2008 WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/TXN |
PHONE: (214)659-8600
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FEDERAL JURY IN SAN ANGELO, TEXAS, CONVICTS
Specifically, the jury found Howell guilty of one count of conspiracy, one count of making false claims, seven counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud and one count of theft of government funds. She faces a maximum statutory sentence of 200 years in prison, a $3 million fine and restitution. U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings, who presided over the trial, ordered a pre-sentence investigation with sentencing to be scheduled after that investigation is completed. Howell was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Howell’s two co-defendants, Charles J. Chaisson, 44, and Gregory J. Chaisson, 46, each pled guilty in September and October 2007. Charles J. Chaisson, who pled guilty to one count of making false claims and aiding and abetting, was sentenced last month to 12 months in prison and ordered to pay $3956.64 in restitution. Gregory J. Chaisson pled guilty to theft of government property and aiding and abetting and was sentenced earlier this month to 36 months in prison and ordered to pay $1250 in restitution. Gregory Chaisson was Howell’s fiancé and Charles Chaisson is his brother. The government presented evidence however that Howell was not residing in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck on August 29, 2005. During 2005, Howell resided in an apartment in Lafayette, Louisiana, until she was evicted at the end of August 2005. Further, neither Howell nor Charles J. Chaisson nor Gregory J. Chaisson had established residency at the address in Lafayette, Louisiana, which each claimed sustained damages from Hurricane Rita. Howell and the Chaisson brothers made false claims to Concho Valley Workforce Solutions, a San Angelo-based organization that received and disbursed emergency relief funds for hurricane evacuees through a grant from DOL. As a result of Howell and the Chaisson brothers falsely portraying themselves as Hurricane Katrina evacuees, Concho Valley Workforce Solutions disbursed approximately $7000 for their benefit.
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