FORMER CATHOLIC CHARITY EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO THEFT OF FUNDS FROM HOMELESS PROGRAM AND FEMA FRAUD

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARGARE SEGURA, a/k/a Margare Lewis, age 42, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty today to three felony counts of a superseding indictment which charged her with conspiracy, theft related to a Catholic Charities homeless program, and false statements, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to the factual basis, SEGURA admitted that she conspired with her sister, Lola Davis, to steal Department of Housing and Urban Development funds granted to Catholic Charities through UNITY of Greater New Orleans for the Supportive Housing Program, a program designed to assist  homeless individuals with free housing and lifeskills training.   SEGURA, the case manager for the Supportive Housing Program, qualified her sister as a landlord of units for individuals that were not homeless or otherwise did not qualify for assistance from the Supportive Housing Program.  SEGURA qualified other individuals, including Deborah Knighten, as landlords of properties that they did not own or for tenants that never resided at the property.  SEGURA also admitted that as an agent of Catholic Charities, she stole at least $5,000 in federal program funds.  Co-defendants Davis and Knighten previously pled guilty. 

SEGURA also pled guilty to a third count which charged her with making false statements and representations to FEMA when she presented the agency with receipts for rent she claimed she paid for a residence for three months following Hurricane Katrina.  SEGURA did not pay rent on the residence.

SEGURA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment as to Count 1 (the conspiracy) and Count 3 (the false statement).  SEGURA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (0) years as to Count 2 (the theft).  The total amount of loss to the Government was calculated at $41,463.00.   Sentencing has been scheduled for February 11, 2009.

The case was investigated by agents with the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security–Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily Greenfield.