Slidell Woman Swindled Rail Retirement, Faces Jail Time

Slidell Woman Swindled Rail Retirement, Faces Jail Time

NEW ORLEANS – In a brazen case of financial deceit, 55-year-old TONYA BUTLER of Slidell, La. has pleaded guilty to making false statements to the Railroad Retirement Board, a move that could land her behind bars for up to one year.

Butler’s scheme began in January 2022 and continued until April 2022, during which time she filed false statements with the Railroad Retirement Board in an effort to obtain sickness benefits. What she failed to disclose, however, was that she was working full-time for an interstate trucking company, raking in a paycheck while padding her pockets with ill-gotten gains.

The scam netted Butler a tidy sum of approximately $7,345.52, a figure that is sure to send shockwaves through the community. And while the money may have been tempting, Butler’s actions came at a steep cost: she faces up to one year in prison, a sentence that will be determined at her upcoming sentencing hearing on July 22, 2024.

Butler’s attorney, or lack thereof, was notably absent from this press release, leaving one to wonder what prompted the defendant to plead guilty in the first place. Whatever the reasoning, one thing is certain: Butler’s actions have had far-reaching consequences, and the public is left to pick up the pieces.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans praised the work of Amtrak – Office of Inspector General and the Railroad Retirement Board – Office of Inspector General in investigating this matter, a move that highlights the importance of vigilant oversight in preventing such crimes from occurring in the first place.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution, a testament to the dedication and expertise of the team working tirelessly to bring justice to the people of Louisiana.

As Butler awaits her sentencing, the people of Slidell and beyond are left to ask themselves: how could someone so brazenly swindle the system, and what will be the long-term consequences of her actions? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: justice will be served, and Butler will face the music for her crimes.