UNSEALING OF GUILTY PLEA TO CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT BANK FRAUD AND BRIBERY AND BANK FRAUD

BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced the unsealing yesterday of a bill of information and guilty plea of CHAUNDRA A. JONES, age 29, of Gonzales, Louisiana. JONES pled guilty in December 2006 before U.S. District Court Judge Frank J. Polozola to a bill of information charging her with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bribery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344.

The defendant admitted to the following facts during her guilty plea and in her written plea agreement. From May 2006 until July 2006, while working as a loan processor at the Ascension Credit Union, she received over $40,000 in bribes from loan applicants in exchange for creating and submitting approximately 37 fraudulent applications seeking over $500,000 in loans. In an attempt to conceal and disguise the scheme, the defendant received some of the bribes through various bank accounts on which the defendant had signatory authority.

The defendant faces a maximum sentence of 35 years imprisonment, a $1,250,000 fine, or both. Sentencing has not yet been set.

U.S. Attorney Dugas stated: "This office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who betray the public's trust and use their position to corruptly line their own pockets. Ascension Parish Credit Union should be commended for its quick response and cooperation with local and federal authorities. Each of us needs to play such an active role in order to defeat corruption."

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Corey R. Amundson.

United States Attorney Jim Letten Eastern District of Louisiana FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: KATHY ENGLISH CONTACT: KATHY ENGLISH PHONE: (504) 680-3068 WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/LAE <http://WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/LAE> FAX: (504) 589-4978 November 27. 2007

UNSEALING OF GUILTY PLEA TO CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT BANK FRAUD AND BRIBERY AND BANK FRAUD BATON ROUGE, LA - United States Attorney David R. Dugas announced the unsealing yesterday of a bill of information and guilty plea of CHAUNDRA A. JONES, age 29, of Gonzales, Louisiana. JONES pled guilty in December 2006 before U.S. District Court Judge Frank J. Polozola to a bill of information charging her with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bribery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344. The defendant admitted to the following facts during her guilty plea and in her written plea agreement. From May 2006 until July 2006, while working as a loan processor at the Ascension Credit Union, she received over $40,000 in bribes from loan applicants in exchange for creating and submitting approximately 37 fraudulent applications seeking over $500,000 in loans. In an attempt to conceal and disguise the scheme, the defendant received some of the bribes through various bank accounts on which the defendant had signatory authority. The defendant faces a maximum sentence of 35 years imprisonment, a $1,250,000 fine, or both. Sentencing has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Dugas stated: "This office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who betray the public's trust and use their position to corruptly line their own pockets. Ascension Parish Credit Union should be commended for its quick response and cooperation with local and federal authorities. Each of us needs to play such an active role in order to defeat corruption." This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Corey R. Amundson.