U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that BOBBY R. LOWE, age 66, a resident of Harvey, was charged today in a Bill of Information with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
According to the Bill of Information, LOWE owned and operated a printing company in Harvey. In early 2013, LOWE conspired with student applicants to produce fraudulent high school transcripts and diplomas, as well as fraudulent GED certificates and transcripts, which were sent to the Office of Admissions at Delgado Community College in New Orleans. LOWE also provided his co-conspirators with envelopes with return addresses for the Department of Education and the Louisiana Community & Technical College System in Baton Rouge. LOWE instructed his co-conspirators to mail the documents from Baton Rouge, so the documents would look more legitimate. The purpose of the scheme was to obtain federal financial aid from the United States Department of Education and Delgado Community College.
If convicted, LOWE faces up to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000. LOWE also faces three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Polite reiterated that a Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the United States Department of Education, Office of Inspector General and the United States Secret Service for investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Julia K. Evans is in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
