A former Mandeville law-firm insider used the access that came with her job to siphon more than $1.8 million, spend it on everything from vacations to pets, and buy homes in two states, federal jurors found. Bobbie Ellis, 63, was convicted Tuesday of wire fraud and tax evasion after a case centered on years of unauthorized withdrawals, forged checks and hidden income. The verdict brings a long-running St. Tammany Parish fraud case to its trial-phase conclusion.
The conviction was first reported by WGNO, which said Ellis worked at a small Mandeville law firm from 2010 through 2018. During that time, she served as an office manager, bookkeeper and paralegal, giving her access to the firm’s financial records, bank accounts, notary stamp and other legal documents.
Federal officials said Ellis accessed bank accounts controlled by the firm without authorization from 2012 through 2018. She was accused of using a credit card linked to her employer for more than $945,000 in purchases, including vacations, hotel stays, retail shopping, restaurants and expenses involving her children and pets.
The alleged scheme also reached into the firm’s checkbook. Officials said Ellis forged her employer’s signature on numerous checks and used fraudulently obtained checks to purchase a home in Georgia and another in Florida.
Tax Evasion Added Another Six-Figure Bill
The case did not end with the money taken from the law firm. WGNO reported that Ellis attempted to evade income taxes tied to both her legitimate and illegal income from 2013 through 2017, leaving her owing the IRS $657,707.
A Separate Mandeville Fraud Case
Mandeville has seen other major workplace-fraud prosecutions, though there is no indication the cases are connected. In a 2012 release, the FBI’s New Orleans field office said Mandeville resident Melody Huie pleaded guilty after using unauthorized wire transfers to steal more than $1.37 million from a transportation company. That case also involved unpaid taxes, with officials saying Huie failed to report $1,370,814.09 in stolen funds and owed $446,983 in income taxes.
What Ellis Could Face
Ellis faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release for wire fraud. The tax-evasion conviction carries a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release, although the eventual sentence will be determined by a federal judge.
The case is a reminder that financial crimes inside small offices can grow quietly when one employee has broad control over accounts, records and payment systems. In Ellis’ case, prosecutors said that access ultimately produced a paper trail stretching across years, multiple properties and more than $2 million in combined financial damage and tax liability.
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