RESERVE WOMAN CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDING AMERICAN RED CROSS

BARBARA STEWART, age 46, a resident of Reserve, LA, was charged today in a one count Bill of Information for Wire Fraud relating to a series of fraudulent applications for financial assistance that she submitted to the American Red Cross between September 15, 2005 and October 4, 2005, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to court documents, BARBARA STEWART, applied for and received disaster assistance funds from the Red Cross eight (8) times during a roughly three week period. The Red Cross made disaster assistance money of up to $1565 available to those affected by the hurricanes of 2005 on a one-time only basis. STEWART repeatedly applied for these funds throughout the early fall of 2005, each time indicating that she had not yet received any money at all from the Red Cross. In all, STEWART fraudulently obtained $12,520 from the American Red Cross.

Upon sentencing, BARBARA STEWART faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years and is subject to a fine of up to $250,000.

The United States Attorney cautions that a Bill of Information is only an allegation and is not proof beyond a reasonable doubt. STEWART is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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