Lynn D. Cawthorne, Wire Fraud, Louisiana 2011

Related Federal Cases

Shreveport Lawyer Admits to $1M Bankruptcy Scam · Texas
Laplace Accountant Accused of $940K Printing Firm Heist · Louisiana
NOLA Non-Profit Pair Accused of $110K HUD Heist · Louisiana
Lake Providence Woman Admits Stealing $5K in HUD Funds · Louisiana
Louisiana Non-Profit Director Sentenced in $244K Food Program Scam · Mississippi

Table of Contents

$536,000 Heist: Shreveport Duo Indicted for Stealing from Kids’ Meal Program

SHREVEPORT, LA – In a shocking case of nonprofit corruption, two Shreveport individuals have been indicted for stealing over $536,000 from a program meant to supply meals to children during the summer.

Lynn D. Cawthorne, 51, and Belena C. Turner, 46, both of Shreveport, are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and seven counts of wire fraud, according to a federal grand jury indictment.

The Food and Nutrition Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, administers the Child Nutrition Programs, including the Summer Feeding Service Program (SFSP), which was established to ensure that children in low-income areas continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session during the summer.

United Citizens and Neighborhoods (UCAN), a non-profit corporation, participated as a sponsor in the SFSP. Cawthorne is the president of UCAN, and Turner is the director, representing herself to be its executive director. The indictment alleges that Cawthorne Catering and Harvest Catering Inc., businesses allegedly provided catering services for UCAN, were involved in the scheme.

Between 2011 and 2015, the defendants fraudulently obtained over $536,000 from the SFSP by filing claims for reimbursement that greatly inflated the number of eligible meals provided. They also transferred money to the catering companies and other entities so that they could improperly use funds that were entrusted to UCAN for the SFSP.

The defendants face 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution, and a $250,000 fine for each count. The investigation was conducted by the Louisiana State Inspector General, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, FBI, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.