Jelissa Lacour, a 36-year-old resident of Jefferson Parish, has been indicted on charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The indictment, announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson, includes two counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
The allegations state that Lacour obtained several Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans using falsified tax forms. Additionally, she is accused of securing Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds under the names of various purported renters. The indictment further reveals that in some cases, the applications were made for accomplices who aimed to benefit from these fraudulent activities. In other instances, Lacour allegedly misused others’ identities to obtain payments.
If found guilty, Lacour could face up to 20 years in prison followed by up to three years of supervised release for each wire fraud count. Each aggravated identity theft count carries a potential sentence of two years imprisonment and up to one year of supervised release. Furthermore, each count could result in fines up to $250,000 along with a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson emphasized that an indictment is merely a charge and the defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation into this case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chandra Menon from the Public Integrity Unit.
