TYLER, Texas – The grimy halls of federal court in the Eastern District of Texas are abuzz with charges against a mother and son duo from Longview. Gracie Brisco, 54, and her 29-year-old son Robert have been slammed with federal indictments for student financial aid fraud.
According to the unyielding indictment, the pair, along with accomplices, swindled funds and assets worth thousands between June 2013 and September 2015 from the Pell Grant Program and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Programs. They did so through a web of deceit, fraud, and forgery.
Should they be found guilty, the Briscoes could face up to five years in federal penitentiary. The severity of the sentence is not final; it will hinge on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors as determined by the court after a presentence investigation.
This sordid case has been a joint effort by numerous law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, local Longview police, and Kilgore College police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathanial Kummerfeld is leading the prosecution.
It’s important to note that a federal grand jury’s indictment is not evidence of guilt. Gracie and Robert Brisco are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
The grimy details of this financial fraud scandal are only the beginning. As the trial unfolds, more shocking revelations about the extent of their alleged activities may come to light.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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