U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
United States Attorney Jim Letten
Eastern District of Louisiana

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2007      

WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/LAE    

CONTACT: KATHY ENGLISH   
PHONE: (504) 680-3068 
FAX: (504) 589-4978

NAPOLEONVILLE WOMAN INDICTED FOR DEFRAUDING FEMA
 
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -ALBERTINE WIGGINS, age 24, a resident of Napoleonville, LA, was charged in a two count indictment with wire fraud and theft of government funds, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

        According to indictment, in July, 2006, WIGGINS contacted FEMA purportedly to obtain financial assistance for another individual.   In the course of this contact with FEMA, WIGGINS, provided a fraudulent application and her personal checking account number to FEMA, and as a result close to $6,000 was transferred to WIGGINS.  The indictment alleges that the individual for whom the assistance was to be provided did not receive the money.

        If convicted, ALBERTINE WIGGINS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years and is subject to a fine of up to $250,000.

        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 was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Dan Friel.