Donna Jean Remides, a 51-year-old woman from Winnsboro, La., has pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a bank, a crime that allowed her to hide a staggering $640,000 in thefts from a federally funded non-profit.
Remides, who was employed as a project coordinator by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), worked for the non-profit Northeast Delta Resource Conservation and Development Council (NDRC&DC) in Winnsboro from January 2001 to December 2010.
During this nearly 10-year period, Remides used the NDRC&DC accounts to pay herself $640,000 without authorization from the council. She wrote herself and her private business checks to cover the thefts, and also obtained loans in the name of the council to conceal the crimes.
Loan documents were filled out stating that the council members had authorized loans at meetings, when in fact they had not. This deception was part of Remides’ scheme to hide the thefts and secure additional loans to cover her crimes.
The investigation into Remides’ crimes was conducted by the USDA-Office of Inspector General in Jackson, Miss., and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan is prosecuting the case.
Remides faces 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and five years of supervised release for her crime. Sentencing has been set for October 7, 2013.
The case is a stark reminder of the need for accountability and transparency in government and non-profit organizations. It also highlights the importance of the work of law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and the USDA-Office of Inspector General, in uncovering and prosecuting white-collar crimes.
Remides’ guilty plea brings an end to a long and complex case, but it also serves as a warning to others who may be tempted to engage in similar crimes.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: White Collar Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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