A New Orleans chef who once made his living behind a grill is now headed toward a federal sentencing hearing. Demietriek Scott, 50, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to conspiring to siphon pandemic-era childcare grant money from the Louisiana Department of Education. Prosecutors say he and a co-conspirator created a fake provider in state grant-tracking systems and diverted $74,250 in Louisiana Child Care Assistance Provider (LaCAP) funds that were supposed to keep child care programs afloat during the COVID emergency. The plea carries a statutory maximum of 30 years in prison and a possible $1 million fine.
Prosecutors' account
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Louisiana, Scott admitted he conspired to obtain LaCAP grant money by manipulating spreadsheets and data systems used by the Department of Education. Prosecutors say Scott and his co-conspirator made a nonexistent childcare provider appear to be a functioning business so they could request and receive federal disaster-related payments.
Timeline and co-conspirator
Federal filings and local reporting place the thefts between April 2020 and March 2021, the height of emergency childcare aid flowing to keep centers from shutting their doors. As reported by WBRZ, prosecutors say Scott worked with Romney Manuel to disguise the fake provider and funnel grant payments into personal accounts.
Who is Scott?
Local outlets have identified Scott as a New Orleans chef and caterer who ran a food truck and small catering business, a far cry from the federal court docket where his name now appears. Authorities say he was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025. Earlier coverage describing what investigators say were the steps Scott and Manuel took to collect LaCAP funds for a sham site called "Nanny's Learning" is detailed by FOX8.
Prosecutors push enforcement
U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised investigators and framed the case as part of broader federal efforts to crack down on fraud targeting disaster-relief programs, emphasizing that prosecutors will pursue people who divert aid intended for vulnerable communities. The press release credits the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Louisiana State Police with assisting the probe and connects the prosecution to the Justice Department's recent fraud-enforcement initiatives, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Louisiana.
What happens next
Scott faces a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. His co-defendant, Romney Manuel, pleaded guilty in September 2025 and faces comparable penalties, according to federal filings and prior local reporting. Prosecutors are expected to move on to sentencing once plea paperwork and any presentence investigations are completed, federal officials told WBRZ.
