Zoe Marie Francis, the former chief operating officer of the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies (IWES) in New Orleans, pleaded guilty on January 7, 2026, to theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. The charge is a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A), according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Court documents show that Francis embezzled money from IWES, a non-profit organization that received grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as other federal sources. She used her position to divert funds for personal benefit and for her family members, including unauthorized spending on personal events and purchases from Amazon. Francis also falsified contracts to conceal these expenses and invoices and awarded herself unauthorized pay increases.
As part of her plea agreement, Francis has agreed to pay more than $100,000 in restitution to IWES and will forfeit at least $150,000 in funds she spent without authorization.
United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo scheduled sentencing for April 8, 2026. At sentencing, Francis could face up to ten years in prison followed by up to three years of supervised release. She may also be required to pay a fine of up to $250,000 and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle commended the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General for its investigative work on the case. “Trial Attorney Gary Crosby, of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas D. Moses, of the Financial Crimes Unit and Health Care Fraud Coordinator, are in charge of the prosecution.”
