A LaPlace resident was sentenced after pleading guilty to charges of filing false statements to the Small Business Administration (SBA), a misstep that brought the scrutiny of federal law enforcement down upon her. Latricia Hope Haynes Moliere, 51, was handed down a sentence this month following a revelation that she provided untruthful information to secure a forgivable loan through the Paycheck Protection Program.
Moliere, in her application dated March 2021, claimed ownership of a baking sole proprietorship with supposed monthly payrolls averting $8,041. According to the United States Attorney's Office, the support for her application was nothing more than a document of deception—a fraudulent IRS Form 1040 Schedule C. Her tangled tale unraveled months later when she filed for bankruptcy, contradicting her earlier claim by stating she was not, in fact, a sole proprietor, a position that now lends her to judicial censure, and public consternation.
U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon meted out a punishment of 3 years of probation and mandated a special assessment fee of $100. In addition to these penalties, Moliere agreed to return the ill-gotten gains and will pay restitution amounting to $22,742.71 to the SBA, as disclosed by court documents.
The actors in our system of justice—the United States Secret Service and the United States Trustee—were extolled for their roles in bringing Moliere's case to a close. "Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Secret Service and the United States Trustee," in investigating this case the U.S. Attorney's Office press release detailed. Working behind the scenes, Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit spearheaded the prosecution, a testament to the commitment of unsung servants to the rule of law, and the coalescing societal guard against exploitation amidst crisis.
The Department of Justice remains on high alert, and encourages the public to report any similar allegations of fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or through their online complaint form.
