THIBODAUX, LA – Brett Gabriel, 31, of Thibodaux, Louisiana, is facing a federal indictment on charges of aggravated identity theft, making false statements to a firearms dealer, and lying to a federal agency, authorities announced Monday. The case reveals a brazen scheme involving stolen identities and pandemic relief funds, further illustrating the reach of fraud impacting both legitimate businesses and public safety.
According to court documents unsealed Friday, March 22, 2024, Gabriel allegedly used the stolen personal information of another individual to illegally purchase a firearm. Simultaneously, he’s accused of leveraging the same compromised identity to fraudulently obtain funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal initiative designed to aid businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. The extent of the PPP fraud remains under investigation, but the indictment suggests a calculated attempt to exploit the crisis for personal gain.
If convicted on the firearms charge, Gabriel could face up to ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000 – or twice the gross gain he obtained or twice the gross loss suffered by the victim, whichever is greater. He also faces up to three years of supervised release. The false statement charge carries a potential sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine (or the aforementioned gain/loss multiplier), plus three years of supervised release. A mandatory $100 special assessment fee will also be applied if convicted on either of these counts.
However, the most serious charge – aggravated identity theft – carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years imprisonment, to be served consecutively with any other sentence imposed. This means Gabriel, if found guilty, will serve at least two additional years on top of any time handed down for the other offenses. U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans emphasized that the indictment is merely an accusation, and Gabriel is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The investigation was spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with crucial assistance from the U.S. Secret Service and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department of Justice also highlighted the case as part of its broader COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force.
Anyone with information regarding potential COVID-19 fraud is encouraged to report it to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or through the NCDF Web Complaint Form. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II of the Financial Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as they become available.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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