A Shreveport woman faces significant time behind bars after being hit with federal charges for wire fraud. Kristen Levin, who also goes by the name Kristen Cassels, was indicted on three counts for her alleged misuse of company funds, according to the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Louisiana.
The indictment details accusations that from 2015 to 2020, Levin leveraged her position at Company A to illicitly funnel around $589,729.12 into her pockets. Company A, operating out of St. Rose, Louisiana, among other locations, fell victim to Levin's scheme, which involved falsifying invoices for products the company never received. The indictment notes that Levin was well aware that these funds were not hers to claim.
The consequences of her alleged actions are grave; a conviction could lead to Levin serving up to 20 years in prison, along with up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. However, as U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans cautioned, "an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt," as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The investigation, carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, aims to thoroughly unravel the case that has left a financial stain on Company A. Prosecutors Kathryn McHugh and Brian M. Klebba, both of whom operate in the Financial Crimes Unit, will spearhead the prosecution effort. The public was notified of these developments in a communication issued by Shane M. Jones, the Public Information Officer.
