A federal grand jury in Lafayette, Louisiana, has indicted a Lafayette man and his two daughters on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. The charges relate to an alleged scheme to defraud the Child and Adult Care Food Program, operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This was announced by Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.
The accused, Brian Desormeaux, 64, along with his daughters, Amy Desormeaux Hernandez, 38, and Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux, 34, each face one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Regional Nutrition Assistance, Inc. (RNA), located in Scott, Louisiana, is at the center of this case. Brian Desormeaux owned the non-profit corporation and served as its Executive Director. Amy Desormeaux Hernandez functioned as the Assistant Director and Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux as the Senior Program Manager.
This non-profit was a "Sponsoring Organization" for the Program, responsible for overseeing it in locations like "Day Care Homes," which offer organized childcare services in private homes. The Program provides support to states through grants and other means to help non-profit food service programs for children and adults in non-residential institutions. Its aim is to supply nutritious food for the health and wellness of young children, older adults, and chronically impaired persons.
The indictment claims that the defendants accessed KidKare/Minute Menu HX, the online portal for administering the Program. It is alleged that Amy Hernandez would switch Day Care Home Providers to "inactive" status at the start of the month to dodge monitoring by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE). At month's end, she would revert them to "active," enabling claims submissions for USDA reimbursement.
Further allegations suggest that false and fraudulent claims were submitted or caused to be submitted to LDOE for USDA reimbursement. These claims reportedly included fictitious cases of child care and meal provision at Day Care Home providers, some of whom were deceased at the time the claims were made.
Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux is additionally accused of forging state fire marshal inspection reports for Day Care Home providers to meet LDOE's Program inclusion requirements, necessary for reimbursements. The indictment alleges these actions led to at least $400,000 in fraudulent claims paid by LDOE and USDA.
If convicted, each defendant could face a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, for each count. The investigation is conducted by the FBI and the Louisiana State Office of Inspector General, with Assistant United States Attorney Lauren L. Gardner leading the prosecution.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
