Indictment in Lafayette, Louisiana on Charges of Mail Fraud

United States Attorney Donald W. Washington of the Western District of Louisiana and United States Attorney David R. Dugas of the Middle District of Louisiana announced today that, on September 16, 2009, a federal grand jury in Lafayette indicted WALLACE EUGENE FLETCHER, also known as GENE FLETCHER, age 67, a resident of Lake Charles, Louisiana, on 17 counts of mail fraud. The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation in which the grand jury alleges that, if he is convicted of the mail fraud counts, FLETCHER should forfeit the proceeds of such offenses to the United States.

The grand jury alleges that, during 2004 and 2005, Fletcher participated in a scheme to defraud the State of Louisiana by over-billing Prison Enterprises for fertilizer provided to state prisons pursuant to a state contract. The indictment alleges that the scheme involved invoicing Prison Enterprises for more fertilizer than was actually delivered, providing Prison Enterprises with cheaper fertilizer than ordered and paid for, and billing at a rate not available under the contract when the fertilizer was delivered.

The case is being handled by the United States Attorney for the Western District with the assistance of the United States Attorney for the Middle District and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana Inspector General’s Office, and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture Brand Commission.

If convicted on all of the mail fraud charges, Fletcher could receive a maximum sentence of imprisonment of 340 years, a fine of $4,250,000, or both.

NOTE: An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by the defendant. The defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until and unless he is proven guilty at trial.