U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that CINDY DANDRIDGE, age 43, of Marrero, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to a one-count Bill of Information charging her with theft of government funds.
U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon sentenced DANDRIDGE to 12 months and a day imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release. As part of the sentence, the Court also ordered DANDRIDGE to pay $50,000 in restitution to the government.
According to documents filed in federal court, DANDRIDGE owned a home in Marrero, Louisiana. In September and October 2010, DANDRIDGE executed application documents with the Home Elevation Mitigation Grant Program (“HMGP") to receive federal grant funds to elevate her house in Marrero, Louisiana. The application was completed with the understanding that the grant monies would be used to elevate her home.
In January 2011, DANDRIDGE received federal HMGP grant monies totaling $50,000 to elevate her house in Marrero. DANDRIDGE deposited these federal funds into her personal bank accounts. However, instead of using the monies to elevate her home, DANDRIDGE used the grant monies to pay for personal expenses.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney, Richard R. Pickens, II is in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
