LAFAYETTE, La. – Yvette L. Fontenot, 54, of Carencro, Louisiana, is trading her office chair for a prison bunk after being sentenced to 14 months behind bars for systematically defrauding her employer over nearly a decade. Fontenot, a former Office Manager at Periodontics Associates in Lafayette, used company credit cards for personal expenses, racking up a bill of $149,461.48.
The scheme, which ran from November 2008 to August 2016, wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment lapse in judgment, but a calculated effort to fund her and her family’s lifestyle on the company dime. Fontenot wasn’t just swiping the cards; she was actively covering her tracks, preparing the business checks used to pay off the fraudulent charges. She knew full well the cards were strictly for business use, and that Periodontics Associates would foot the bill for her personal spending.
According to court documents, Fontenot abused her position of trust, exploiting her access to company finances for personal gain. She wasn’t stealing cash; she was cleverly diverting funds, using business accounts as a personal slush fund. The audacity of the operation is underscored by the length of time it went undetected – nearly eight years – before the U.S. Secret Service stepped in.
Fontenot pleaded guilty on August 20, 2021, to the charge of using or trafficking in an unauthorized access device. U.S. District Judge Robert R. Summerhays didn’t show much leniency, handing down the 14-month prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. But the punishment doesn’t stop there; Fontenot is also ordered to fully reimburse Periodontics Associates the $149,461.48 she illegally siphoned.
The U.S. Secret Service took the lead on the investigation, a reminder that their work extends beyond protecting dignitaries. They’re also on the front lines of financial crime, unraveling complex fraud schemes like this one. Assistant U.S. Attorney Myers P. Namie handled the prosecution, ensuring Fontenot faced justice for her betrayal of trust.
While Fontenot’s actions represent a significant financial loss for Periodontics Associates, the case serves as a warning to others tempted to abuse their positions of authority. The Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are sending a clear message: financial crimes will be investigated, and those responsible will be held accountable, even if it takes years to surface.
Related Federal Cases
- Mehmood Patel, Healthcare Fraud, Lafayette LA, 2023 · Texas
- Amy Evangelista Sentenced to 18 Months for Tax Fraud Scheme, Lathro… · Alaska
- Fontenot Wins Sentence Appeal, Pierre SD, 2023 · South Dakota
- Fontenot Seeks Sentence Reversal, Federal Conviction Challenge, Sio… · Arkansas
- McKenzie Marie Earley, $10M Wire Fraud, C.D. California, 2023 · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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