Explore the Archive

AARP Louisiana hosted an educational presentation titled "Unmasking Fraud" featuring nationally recognized fraud expert and former prosecutor Paul Greenwood to address senior fraud targeting older adults in Louisiana. The event emphasized that fraud against seniors impacts not only financial security but also causes lasting emotional and psychological harm, and provided practical strategies for protection. AARP directs people to its Fraud Watch Network resource for current scam information and personal data protection guidance.

AARP Louisiana hosted a fraud awareness townhall event featuring nationally recognized fraud expert and former prosecutor Paul Greenwood to educate seniors about scams targeting older adults. The event aimed to provide practical protection strategies and highlight how fraud impacts seniors beyond financial loss, including emotional and trust-related consequences. AARP encourages seniors to utilize resources like their FraudWatch Network to stay informed about emerging scams and safeguard personal information.

Oklahoma seniors are receiving fraudulent Medicare enrollment postcards that appear official but are scams designed to trick them into calling unknown numbers during the Medicare open enrollment period. The Oklahoma State Insurance Department reports multiple scam types targeting seniors in October-December, including fake enrollment cards and unauthorized charges for medical devices appearing on Medicare statements, with similar fraudulent mailers also reported in Kansas and Louisiana. Seniors are advised to independently verify government agency phone numbers rather than calling numbers on suspicious mailers.

**Summary:** Shavonda Chambers, 43, of New Orleans was charged with wire fraud on February 8, 2024, for submitting false payroll vouchers while administering payroll at a local business to steal money from her employer. She faces up to twenty years imprisonment, fines up to $250,000 or twice the amount of losses to the victim, and mandatory supervised release. The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

The FBI is warning Louisiana residents about a surge in scams targeting people receiving tax refunds, particularly phishing attacks via unsolicited text messages and calls impersonating legitimate companies like UPS and Amazon. Residents are advised never to click links from unknown senders and to verify suspicious messages by searching them online, as most are attempts to steal sensitive personal information.

The FBI is warning Louisiana residents about an increase in scams targeting people receiving tax refunds, particularly phishing attempts via text messages and automated calls impersonating legitimate companies like UPS and Amazon. Residents are advised never to click links from unknown senders and to verify suspicious messages by searching them online, as most are phishing attempts designed to steal sensitive information.

A Lake Charles, Louisiana man lost $300 in gift cards when two of four cards totaling $300 were drained before he could use them—one card was emptied in Ohio the same day it was purchased in Texas, while another was drained in Texas while in his possession in Louisiana. Scammers employ tactics including tampering with cards at retail kiosks, replacing PIN information, and purchasing additional gift cards to obscure the money trail, making resolution difficult for victims. Experts recommend examining gift cards for signs of tampering before purchase and treating them like cash.

Lynn Schofield, age 60, from Louisiana, was sentenced to 12 months in prison (with 6 months home detention) in March 2024 for conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving fraudulent COVID-19 relief loan applications. Schofield and her two adult children submitted false Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications that misrepresented nonexistent or low-earning businesses and falsely claimed loan proceeds were for business purposes, resulting in approximately $282,650 in losses to the Small Business Administration. She was ordered to repay full restitution and serve three years of supervised release.

AARP highlights that fraud schemes targeting older Americans persist in the digital age, with scammers continually developing new tactics to impersonate legitimate entities and access personal financial information. The organization provides comprehensive protective measures including securing sensitive documents, monitoring credit reports, using strong passwords, and verifying businesses before sharing personal information. In 2023 alone, Louisiana residents lost nearly $47 million to fraud with identity theft being the most common type, reflecting a broader national problem where known fraud losses reached between $10-43 billion.

Neely B. Hargis and Joseph T. Trotta, both age 60 from New Orleans, were indicted in April 2024 for conspiring to commit wire fraud and theft of government funds totaling approximately $443,455 from a deceased woman's Social Security Administration account. The defendants, who gained access to the account through owning the deceased beneficiary's former residence, used the stolen funds for personal expenses including vehicle purchases and utility bills from 2002 to 2020, and subsequently lied to federal agents during investigation. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years imprisonment and substantial fines.

**Summary:** Jason Pick, a 42-year-old New Orleans accountant, was indicted on eight counts of wire fraud for stealing approximately $64,137 from his employer between June 2020 and October 2021 by altering tenant rent payment money orders and depositing them into his personal account. While awaiting sentencing for the initial scheme, Pick submitted a fraudulent letter to a federal judge to delay his prison report date so he could conceal additional fraudulent changes to the company's accounting system. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

The FBI released its 2023 IC3 Elder Fraud Annual Report warning of rising fraud targeting elderly people, with call center fraud (tech support, consumer support, and government impersonation scams) being the most common method and investment scams causing the greatest financial losses. In Louisiana alone, over 700 reported victims lost more than $18 million in 2023, though officials acknowledge the actual number of victims is significantly higher due to underreporting. The FBI provides protective measures including recognizing scam attempts, verifying contact information online, resisting pressure to act quickly, and safeguarding personal information and devices.

Jo Ann Deal from the Better Business Bureau discussed unfair and deceptive trade practices, emphasizing that these violations occur across all states and highlighting the importance of understanding paper and electronic billing laws. Consumers are encouraged to contact the BBB at (318)-387-4600 to learn more about their rights under Louisiana billing laws and how to identify deceptive trade practices.

Louisiana State Police are warning residents about a resurfacing phone scam in which criminals impersonate law enforcement to solicit personal information and money from victims. Authorities advise that legitimate law enforcement officials never request payments or personal information over the phone and encourage residents to report suspected fraudulent calls to the Louisiana State Analytical and Fusion Center.

A text scam circulating in Lake Arthur, Louisiana falsely claims recipients must appear in court and directs them to call "Pretrial Services of Acadia Parish" at an out-of-area number, threatening dispatch of local authorities. Lake Arthur Police Department advises residents to discard these messages and report them to Louisiana State Police, as the scam is designed to extract money or personal information from victims.

During Memorial Day 2024, the Better Business Bureau warned of toll service scams targeting travelers, primarily through fake text messages claiming to be from Louisiana toll services with fraudulent payment websites. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advised the public to verify toll communications through their official website and report suspected scams to the BBB.

A Lafayette, Louisiana resident lost $50 to a rental scam after finding a fake apartment listing on Facebook and sending an application fee to a fraudster posing as a landlord. According to FBI data, 11,500 people nationwide reported rental and real estate scams in 2021, resulting in $350 million in collective losses. Experts recommend meeting landlords in person, viewing properties before payment, researching landlords' legitimacy, and avoiding wire transfers to strangers.

The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning about rising impersonation scams targeting seniors nationwide, particularly in Louisiana, where fraudsters pose as government officials to steal personal information and money through phone calls, emails, and text messages. Scammers use advanced tactics including spoofed caller IDs, fabricated debt claims, and pressure for immediate payment via gift cards or wire transfers to exploit victims. The IRS recommends hanging up on unexpected calls about tax issues and verifying legitimacy by calling official IRS customer service at 800-829-1040.

I cannot summarize this content as it does not contain information relevant to the Elderus database. The provided text is a list of unrelated news headlines covering topics such as train incidents, political campaigns, municipal finance, film nominations, and house fires—none of which pertain to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. Please provide an article or transcript related to senior fraud or elder abuse for summarization.

Rachel Watts Sanders, a 39-year-old mail contractor from Louisiana, was indicted in July 2024 for stealing over forty checks from the mail, forging endorsements, and depositing them into her own bank account. She faces up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud and 5 years for mail theft, with potential fines totaling $1.25 million.

Jeffrey Paul Vappie II, a former New Orleans Police Department officer assigned to the Mayor's Executive Protection Unit, was federally indicted on seven counts of wire fraud and one count of making false statements for submitting false timecards while conducting a personal romantic relationship with a city official between November 2021 and June 2024. Vappie disguised personal activities—including spending time in a city-owned apartment, sharing meals, traveling on city-funded trips, and exchanging encrypted romantic messages—as official duties while claiming to be working and receiving payment from NOPD. He faces up to 20 years in prison per wire fraud count and up to 5 years for false statements after lying

A Louisiana physician, Adrian Dexter Talbot, was convicted of illegally distributing over 1.8 million doses of Schedule II opioids and defrauding health care programs of more than $5.4 million. Talbot operated a clinic that dispensed prescriptions for cash without proper patient examinations, pre-signed prescriptions while working elsewhere, falsified patient records, and allowed individuals to bill Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield for prescriptions written without medical necessity. He faces up to 20 years in prison for each count and sentencing is scheduled for October 23.

An elderly woman in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana received a spoofed phone call from someone impersonating Sheriff Becket Breaux claiming she had an outstanding warrant related to a magazine purchase and was being sought by the FBI. The scammer convinced her to withdraw $2,000 from her bank, purchase gift cards at Dollar General, and provide the card numbers and CVV codes while remaining on the line with her. The St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office warns that these impersonation scams targeting elderly residents use scare tactics and caller ID spoofing, and advises victims to hang up and contact local law enforcement rather than providing personal information.

Tamika Chappell, a 40-year-old from New Orleans, was sentenced to five years probation in August 2024 for fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds under the CARES Act, making false statements to the IRS, and theft of government funds. She was ordered to pay $210,274 in restitution to the Small Business Administration, $155,359 to the IRS, $96,150 to the Social Security Administration, and $23,125 to a victim bank, plus a $300 special assessment fee, totaling approximately $485,000 in restitution across multiple agencies

AARP Louisiana hosted an "Unmasking Fraud" educational event on October 15 featuring keynote speaker Paul Greenwood, a retired San Diego Deputy District Attorney who prosecuted over 750 elder abuse and fraud cases during his 22-year career. The free public event included a resource fair, stakeholder roundtable, and presentation of the AARP Fraud Fighter of the Year Award to recognize organizations dedicated to combating fraud in Louisiana.

A Louisiana state judge ordered the seizure of a fraudulent website (geauxpass.info) operating from a Russian server that was phishing for credit card information through scam text messages. The texts falsely claimed recipients owed $3.75 in unpaid toll fees and directed them to the fake site, threatening a $30 fine for non-payment. Law enforcement including Kenner Police, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Intellectual Property Rights Center successfully identified and shut down the operation, which mimicked the legitimate GeauxPass toll payment website.

Kenner Police shut down a phishing scam website (geauxpass.info) that mimicked Louisiana's legitimate toll payment site (geauxpass.com) and targeted residents with text messages demanding $3.75 toll payments. The scammers, operating from a Russian server, were primarily seeking personal and credit card information rather than the toll amount itself. Police advised that government agencies never request payment or personal information via text messages or online links, and legitimate toll payments are only processed through official U.S. Mail communications.

A phishing scam originating from Russia targeted Southeast Louisiana residents with text messages falsely claiming unpaid toll fees of $3.75 and directing victims to a fake website designed to steal personal information including names, phone numbers, addresses, and credit card numbers. The Kenner Police Department, working with state and federal agencies, obtained a court order to seize the fraudulent website and shut down the operation, though the exact number of victims remains unknown.

Randy A. Farrell, Sr., age 61, a third-party building inspector in New Orleans, was indicted on 25 counts including conspiracy, wire fraud, and honest services fraud for accepting bribes to allow unlicensed electricians to obtain fraudulent permits and pass inspections on hundreds of homes using licensed electricians' names. Farrell and his company IECI & Associates also attempted to obstruct the investigation by offering bribes to public officials. If convicted, Farrell faces up to 20 years in prison per count and potential fines up to $250,000 per count.

William J. White, a 63-year-old Arizona resident, was sentenced to 15 months in prison on September 25, 2024, for attempting to cash a forged check at a local bank using false identification. White was also ordered to pay a $100 mandatory assessment fee and will serve two years of supervised release following his imprisonment.

Kristen Levin, a Shreveport, Louisiana resident, was indicted on September 26, 2024, on three counts of wire fraud for stealing approximately $589,729 from her employer (Company A) between 2015 and 2020 using fraudulent invoices for products the company never received. If convicted, Levin faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release.

Georges Media Group and AARP Louisiana are hosting "Unmasking Fraud," a free public educational event on October 15 in New Orleans featuring AARP Fraud Ambassador Paul Greenwood, a retired prosecutor with 22 years of experience leading elder abuse prosecution, along with local law enforcement and legal experts who will discuss fraud prevention tactics and resources. The event includes a resource fair, stakeholder roundtable, and will be livestreamed, with AARP reporting that an estimated 141.5 million U.S. adults have been targeted by fraud, emphasizing the need for community-wide prevention efforts and the AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline at 877

Tonya Denise Brown, a 48-year-old licensed practical nurse at Tangipahoa Parish Jail, was indicted on nine federal counts in September 2024 for defrauding vulnerable populations. Her schemes included soliciting money under false promises of assistance with criminal cases and disaster benefits (targeting hurricane victims), misusing a notary's identity to defraud FEMA rental assistance and HUD's Restore Louisiana programs, and illegally selling controlled substances including oxycodone online. Additionally, she was charged with making false statements to the FBI and lying to a judge, with potential sentences ranging from 5 to 30 years depending on the charges.

A former Tangipahoa Parish jail nurse, 48-year-old Tonya Denise Brown, was indicted on multiple federal charges including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and perjury. Brown allegedly defrauded victims through four schemes: falsely promising assistance with criminal prosecutions while working at the jail, defrauding HUD-funded disaster relief programs (Restore Louisiana and FEMA rental assistance) by claiming she could obtain benefits for money, using a notary's identity in the rental assistance scheme, and illegally selling prescription drugs online. If convicted, Brown faces up to 30 years in prison depending on the charges.

Raj Vinodchandra Patel, a 34-year-old New Hampshire resident, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for his role in a wire fraud scheme targeting elderly residents. Patel served as a courier for an operation originating from India that used fake pop-up messages and impersonated federal agents to convince victims their Social Security numbers were compromised, then instructed them to purchase gold bullion for "safekeeping"; he was caught on October 7, 2023, when the FBI conducted a sting operation after an Alexandria, Louisiana victim reported the fraud, resulting in an intended loss of approximately $514,000 across multiple victims.

AARP of Louisiana presented "Unmasking Fraud," an educational event featuring AARP Fraud Ambassador Paul Greenwood, who shared fraud prevention strategies and resources aimed at protecting Louisiana residents from elder abuse and scams. The event focused on key approaches to help seniors recognize and defend against fraudulent schemes.

Louisiana residents over age 50 are nearly six times more likely to be targeted by scams, with older Americans losing approximately $3 billion to fraud between 2019-2020. Scammers exploit this demographic because they hold 85% of the nation's wealth, have higher credit limits, and tend to be more trusting, with nearly 60% of elder financial exploitation cases perpetrated by their own adult children. The article recommends that family members and friends educate older relatives about current scams, encourage reporting of attempted fraud, and advise contacting local law enforcement if victimized.

AARP Louisiana hosted an "Unmasking Fraud" educational event with nearly 150 attendees to equip older adults with knowledge to recognize and prevent scams, featuring expert speaker Paul Greenwood, a stakeholder roundtable, and resource fair. The Louisiana Attorney General's Office received the inaugural Fraud Fighter of the Year Award for its fraud-prevention efforts, and the event was broadcast on AARP Louisiana's Facebook, YouTube, and The Advocate's platforms to reach wider audiences. The event aims to inform future legislative solutions and strengthen Louisiana's protections against the fastest-growing threat to the state's aging population.

This content does not contain information about scams, fraud, or elder abuse. The items listed are general news updates covering government appointments, business announcements, historical dates, and a brief mention of extended warranties discussion. None of these constitute elder fraud or abuse cases suitable for the Elderus database.

**Not applicable for elder fraud database.** This article excerpt does not contain information about elder fraud, scams targeting seniors, or elder abuse. It primarily covers a pharmacy benefit manager lawsuit related to the opioid crisis, which is a public health matter rather than elder fraud. The other brief mentions reference unrelated legal disputes (employment, music industry, elections, and sports gambling).

Meta is developing new security features for Facebook and Instagram, including facial recognition technology and video selfie verification, to protect users from account hacks, extortion, and celeb-baiting scams (where fraudsters use celebrity likenesses to trick users into sharing personal information or money). The technology will allow locked-out users to recover their accounts faster and will be rolled out to Louisiana users in the coming weeks, with facial data used only for verification purposes and not stored in databases.

I cannot provide a summary for this article as it does not relate to elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. The content appears to be about Louisiana state tax legislation and corporate tax rates. For the Elderus database, please provide articles or transcripts specifically covering topics such as financial exploitation, elder fraud schemes, scams targeting seniors, or elder abuse incidents.

The Louisiana Attorney General's Office hosted a free public seminar on fraud awareness in Natchitoches on November 20, led by North Louisiana Outreach Manager Laura Seabaugh. The educational event covered how to recognize different types of fraud, identify red flags in online scams, protect personal and financial information, and respond if victimized by fraud.

Kamila Horakova Dudley, a 43-year-old Maryland woman, was sentenced on December 10, 2024, to 3 years probation and ordered to pay $473,702.43 in restitution for her role in a million-dollar wire fraud scheme targeting a New Orleans Marine Forces Reserve facility. As an office manager for a contractor from March 2017 through November 2018, Dudley knowingly prepared and submitted false invoices billing the U.S. government approximately $1.3 million for services never provided, including charges for executives and employees who worked at separate facilities. Despite learning in October 2017 that the invoices contained fraudulent

Violent crime against seniors has surged 331% over the past decade, with property crime up 79% between 2013 and 2023, while seniors collectively lost a record $3.4 billion to scams in 2023. A comprehensive safety analysis examining crime rates, healthcare access, falls, traffic fatalities, and fraud across all 50 states found New Jersey to be the safest retirement destination, followed by New York, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Nebraska, while western states dominated the least safe rankings.

A Slidell, Louisiana chiropractor, Dennis Michael Peyroux, pled guilty in January 2025 to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud after billing Medicare approximately $3.3 million (reimbursed $3.2 million) for over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits that were not requested or eligible for reimbursement. The scheme involved purchasing Medicare beneficiary information and fabricated recordings, misusing a former nurse practitioner's credentials as the referring provider, and billing for thousands of false claims over a six-month period starting in November 2022. Peyroux agreed to pay $3.2 million in restitution, with over $

Clifton C. James, a 50-year-old New Orleans resident, pled guilty to COVID-19 relief fraud involving false statements to obtain an $86,800 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and stealing $149,900 from the Small Business Administration through a fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan application, which he then laundered by purchasing an automobile. James also filed a false tax return claiming only $1.00 in income for 2019 and faces sentencing on April 23, 2025, with potential penalties including up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines per charge.

A Louisiana woman lost approximately $60,000 in a catfishing scam where someone used artificial intelligence to impersonate Elon Musk on the Threads platform and subsequently in video conversations. The scammer convinced her to purchase gift cards (which could not be traced or retrieved) by promising her a Tesla and later requesting money for pizza and fabricated truck damage fees. Home Depot employees in multiple Louisiana locations became suspicious when the victim repeatedly purchased gift cards and refused to sell them to her, helping halt the fraud.

Shi Gang Zheng, a 55-year-old Chinese national illegally residing in New Orleans, was sentenced to 27 months in prison on January 16, 2025, for bankruptcy fraud, drug distribution, and illegal firearm possession. In a 2018 Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, Zheng falsely stated he owned no firearms or significant assets, but investigators discovered unreported assets including numerous firearms; a 2023 law enforcement search also recovered approximately 51 kilograms of marijuana from his vehicle and residence. As an undocumented immigrant, Zheng was prohibited from possessing firearms, and he was required to pay a $300 special assessment and complete three years

A Lafayette, Louisiana woman lost over $60,000 in a romance scam involving deepfake technology on Threads, where a scammer impersonated Elon Musk using AI-generated voice and video in fake video chats. The victim was manipulated into purchasing gift cards at multiple locations and eventually sending thousands of dollars after being promised a Tesla and falsely told a FedEx truck had crashed. Authorities could not recover the funds since they were voluntarily sent, and experts urge people to verify suspicious online relationships and watch for warning signs in loved ones.