Former Detective Dawn C. Foret Sentenced for Stealing $14,728 in Grant Funds

Former Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office (TPSO) Detective DAWN C. FORET, 38, of Houma, has been sentenced to three years of probation after admitting to stealing $14,728 in federal grant money meant to combat underage drinking. The case, prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, exposes a years-long fraud scheme buried in routine police reports and overtime billing under the Juvenile Underage Drinking Enforcement Grant (JUDE).

U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance handed down the sentence today, which includes full restitution of $14,728 to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and a mandatory $100 special assessment. FORET pleaded guilty to a one-count Bill of Information for theft of government funds, admitting she falsely claimed participation in 124 out of 130 law enforcement operations between November 6, 2010, and July 18, 2012.

The JUDE Grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and administered by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, was designed to pay overtime for officers conducting sting operations at bars and convenience stores suspected of selling alcohol to minors. FORET was assigned to administer the grant in October 2009, responsible for organizing volunteers, planning operations, and filing reports — not for collecting pay for work she never did.

But starting November 6, 2010, FORET began inserting her name into nearly every JUDE operation narrative, claiming she was present and eligible for overtime pay. Her name appeared in 124 out of 130 operation reports — only absent on six occasions. She billed for full hours even when no citations were issued and reports were minimal. In reality, she admitted she never physically participated in any of the operations during that period.

The fraud totaled $14,728 in stolen funds. Investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation uncovered the scheme through a review of operational logs, payroll records, and sworn reports, revealing a pattern of falsified documentation and unauthorized compensation. The TPSO’s internal oversight failed to catch the abuse for nearly two years.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., credited the FBI’s thorough investigation and praised Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward J. Rivera and Bill McSherry, who led the prosecution. The case underscores recurring vulnerabilities in the oversight of federal grant programs at the local law enforcement level — and the consequences when trust is weaponized for personal gain.