Louisiana Non-Profit Director Sentenced in $244K Food Program Scam

JACKSON, MS – Teressia Garner, 60, of Minden, Louisiana, is trading her freedom for a federal prison cell. Garner was sentenced Tuesday, November 23, 2021, to 24 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, followed by three years of supervised release. The charge? Stealing $244,060.09 in federal funds earmarked to feed vulnerable children and adults. She’s also been ordered to pay back every stolen penny in restitution.

The scheme unfolded through Safe Haven Development, Inc., a non-profit Garner directed and registered. From 2011 to 2015, Safe Haven participated in the Louisiana Department of Education’s Division of Nutrition Support’s Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Nutrition Program – programs funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Instead of ensuring nutritious meals reached those in need, Garner treated the funds as her personal slush fund.

Court documents paint a picture of blatant self-indulgence. Donations, gifts, retail splurges, lavish hotel stays, expensive restaurants – all paid for with money intended for hungry kids. One particularly galling example: a $9,578.48 Christmas party for Safe Haven employees at the Wyndham Garden Shreveport on December 15, 2015. The party featured a rented ballroom, catered food, and an open bar. Hardly the stuff of child nutrition, wouldn’t you say?

“The greed shown by Garner for self-indulgence at the expense of those for whom this program was intended will not be tolerated in Louisiana, Mississippi, or elsewhere,” declared U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca of the Southern District of Mississippi, whose office prosecuted the case. He rightly points out this wasn’t a victimless crime. Garner wasn’t skimming off the top; she was robbing the mouths of children.

Federal investigators from the FBI New Orleans Field Division, the USDA Office of Inspector General, and the Louisiana Inspector General’s office worked together to unravel the fraud. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that individuals like Ms. Teressia Garner who brazenly steal from children in need will be held accountable,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams, Jr. The USDA OIG and Louisiana Inspector General echoed that sentiment, vowing continued vigilance against those who exploit programs designed to help the most vulnerable.

Garner pleaded guilty to Theft of Government Funds. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Chalk and Meghan McCalla secured the conviction and sentencing. While 24 months is a start, it barely begins to repay the damage done. This case is a stark reminder: stealing from children isn’t just a crime, it’s a moral failing, and the Grimy Times will be watching to ensure justice is served in every similar case.