Former Louisiana Department Of Education Employee Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy To Commit Wire Fraud

Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that Romney Manuel, age 51, of Prairieville, Louisiana, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Manuel’s conviction is punishable by a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, and a period of supervised release. According to admissions made during his plea, beginning on or about April 2020 and continuing to at least March 29, 2021, Manuel conspired with another to devise a scheme to obtain federal funds in the form of LaCAP grant money from the Louisiana Department of Education. During the course of said conspiracy, Manuel and his co-conspirator made a non-existent childcare provider appear operational and manipulated spreadsheets and data systems utilized by the Louisiana Department of Education in order to steal $74,250 in federal funds.

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