A Jefferson Parish resident, Jelissa Lacour, age 36, pleaded guilty on August 14, 2025 to two counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. The plea was entered before United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier, according to an announcement by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
Court documents show that Lacour admitted to obtaining multiple Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans using falsified tax forms. She also fraudulently secured Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds in the names of various purported renters. In some cases, Lacour submitted PPP and ERAP applications for accomplices seeking to benefit from the fraudulent activity; in other cases, she used the identities of others without their knowledge to obtain payments.
At sentencing, Lacour could face up to 20 years in prison and up to three years of supervised release for each wire fraud count. For each aggravated identity theft count, she faces a possible sentence of two years in prison followed by up to one year of supervised release. Each count carries a potential fine of up to $250,000 and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Chandra Menon from the Public Integrity Unit is prosecuting the case.
