St Mary 911 Director Arrested

St. Mary Parish’s 911 Director Marie Anderson is still on the job, even though a press release reports she was indicted on an unnamed charge or charges related to fraud involving disaster food stamps.

St. Mary Parish Director of Homeland Security Duval Arthur, said he learned of the indictment through a newspaper article. “I called her Monday afternoon, and she was unaware of the charges as well. Frankly, no one knows what she is being charged with.”

Arthur is a member of the St. Mary Parish 911 Board, whom Anderson reports to. “We’ll be meeting this week, and I guess that will be the topic. But for now, nothing has changed with her job,” he said.

Trey Williams, who issued the press release Monday, said he could offer no further comment. He did indicate that the investigation is ongoing and more indictments are expected. Williams is listed as a point of contact with the Louisiana Department of Social Services Fraud and Recovery Section.

Also, the release did admit the charges set forth in the indictment are merely accusations and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

It also said that support for the investigation was provided by St. Mary Parish Sheriff David Naquin and Franklin City Police Chief Sabria McGuire.

Contacted Monday afternoon, McGuire said, “I don’t talk to anyone.”

Arthur said he is just speechless at this point. “We just don’t know anything. And I have to tell you that Marie was working out great for us. She is a good leader.”

The release states that there is a 57 count indictment that alleges that Anderson as well as 13 others, are suspected of fraud involving food stamps that were issued during Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike. The theft totals more than $50,000.

The release states that the indictments were handed down in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana, on November 10.

It also states that former St. Mary Parish Office of Family Services Employee Edie Harrison of Baldwin was arrested, along with Paula Bell of New Iberia and State Department of Health and Hospital Employee Felicia Carroll of Jeanerette.

Along with Anderson, the others indicted include: Teresa Hawkins, former St. Mary Parish OFS Family Services Parish Manager, and these former St. Mary Parish Office of Family Services Employees: Angela Gray, Laura Wells, Harriet Williams, Andrea Broussard , Dorothy Reedom, and Tawana Carson. Also indicted were: St. Mary Parish Department of Health and Hospitals Area Manager Barbara Sanders, St Mary Parish Department of Health and Hospitals Employee Barbara Sonia, and Iberia Parish Office of Family Services Employee Shelia Blevins.

“Our administration has zero tolerance for employee fraud and malfeasance,” Department of Social Services Secretary Kristy Nichols said in the release. “Maintaining the integrity of our public assistance programs is critical to our mission to provide services for Louisiana residents while serving as responsible stewards of public funds. It is our policy to aggressively investigate allegations of fraud with respect to our employees and recipients with the goal of rooting out such activity to ensure that taxpayer’s funds are reserved for those who are truly in need.”

The release also states that the counts lodged against Anderson and the others include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, embezzlement of public funds, and lying to a federal agent.

It said examples of the criminal activity involved applying for assistance for deceased or non-existent people, receiving assistance for persons who lived out of state, and willful disregard of applicants’ household income and liquid assets which are major criteria used to determine eligibility.