Katie Laroche, Embezzlement, Louisiana 2022

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Katie Laroche, 53, of New Orleans, is facing serious federal charges after allegedly pilfering over $233,000 from a client over a six-year period. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the charges Tuesday, alleging a systematic scheme to defraud a vulnerable individual.

According to a bill of information filed by the government, Laroche, a self-employed financial manager, handled the bookkeeping, accounting, and financial services for her clientele. Between 2015 and 2021, authorities say she engaged in a brazen embezzlement scheme, diverting $233,363.53 from one specific client’s account. The feds aren’t naming the victim at this time.

The scheme wasn’t sophisticated, but it was persistent. Laroche allegedly masked the theft by falsifying records, claiming the withdrawn funds were legitimate tax payments. In reality, the money was funneled directly into her personal accounts or used to fund her own expenses, according to the indictment. The Secret Service investigation uncovered a pattern of fraudulent activity spanning the entire six-year timeframe.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans was quick to point out that the bill of information represents accusations, not proof of guilt. “A bill of information is merely a charge, and the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” Evans stated. The government will need to present compelling evidence to secure a conviction.

If convicted of wire fraud, Laroche faces a steep penalty: up to twenty years behind bars. Beyond imprisonment, she could also be subjected to three years of supervised release following her sentence, a fine potentially reaching $250,000 (or twice the amount she illegally gained or the loss suffered by the victim), and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. The feds are clearly aiming for a significant punishment.

The case was spearheaded by the U.S. Secret Service, with Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas D. Moses and Jordan Ginsberg handling the prosecution. The Secret Service’s involvement highlights the agency’s expanding role in investigating financial crimes beyond its traditional focus on counterfeiting and protecting dignitaries. This case serves as a stark reminder that financial predators operate in every corner of the country, and the long arm of the law is always watching.

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