Hayden Philip Breaux, Identity Theft, Louisiana 2020

SHREVEPORT, La. - Two Louisiana College students have been charged with identity theft and conspiracy in a scheme to obtain emergency financial aid grants as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act.

A federal indictment alleges that Hayden Philip Breaux, 21, of Houma, Louisiana and D’Quincy Marquis Jones, 23, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, conspired to fraudulently obtain CARES Act funds for their own use between June 5, 2020 and June 20, 2020.

According to the indictment, Breaux and Jones used personally identifiable information (PII) of other students to access the Louisiana College Online Student Portal to apply for CARES Act emergency financial aid grants in the names of individuals and direct the grants to specific bank accounts controlled by members of the conspiracy.

The indictment alleges that Breaux and Jones and other members of the conspiracy used the Louisiana College Student Identification Numbers and passwords of nine individuals to access the Portal, to apply for, and direct payment of CARES Act emergency financial aid from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.

An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The FBI and U.S. Department of Education – Office of Inspector General are conducting the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg is prosecuting the case.

Breaux and Jones face one count of conspiracy to commit identity theft and five counts of identity theft. If convicted, they could face significant prison time and fines.

The case is a reminder of the importance of protecting personally identifiable information and the consequences of identity theft.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla/pr/two-louisiana-college-students-charged-identity-theft