Melissa J. Watson, Theft of Public Money, Louisiana 2023

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Table of Contents

Slidell Woman Pleads Guilty to $780,000 COVID-19 Fund Theft

A Louisiana woman has pleaded guilty to theft of public money in connection with a scheme to misappropriate over $780,000 from the Provider Relief Fund, a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Melissa J. Watson, of Slidell, operated a primary care clinic. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Watson submitted false and fraudulent attestations on behalf of her clinic to obtain PRF funds to which she was not entitled. Watson’s attestations included falsely affirming that such funds would only be used by the clinic to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, and to reimburse health care related expenses or lost revenues attributable to coronavirus.

Despite the attestations, Watson used the PRF funds for personal purposes, including making numerous cash withdrawals and purchasing, among other items, hundreds of thousands of dollars in real estate, a luxury vehicle, a boat and trailer, and a time share condominium.

The government seized over $500,000 in bank accounts held by Watson, along with several assets, including a boat and trailer, and a Range Rover Sport vehicle. Watson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI and Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Moses for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.

The COVID-19 pandemic relief funds were meant to support healthcare providers during a time of crisis. Instead, Melissa J. Watson saw an opportunity to line her own pockets with hundreds of thousands of dollars. Her actions are a betrayal of the trust placed in her as a healthcare provider.