Ball, Louisiana Mayor and Town Clerk Plead Guilty

ALEXANDRIA, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Roy E. Hebron, former mayor of the town of Ball, Louisiana entered a guilty plea today to a charge of conspiracy to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following Hurricane Gustav. The government’s plea agreement with Hebron required him to resign from his office as mayor. The resignation is effective immediately. Pleading to the same charge was Brenda Kimball, the clerk of the town of Ball.

Jay L. Barber, former chief of police for the town of Ball; Anthony Akins; Judy Crowe; and Laverne James previously pled guilty to related charges and were cooperating with the government.

Hebron, 56, and Kimball, 54, admitted at guilty plea hearings today before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell that they conspired to submit false statements to FEMA in an application for benefits to be paid in connection with the Presidential Disaster Declaration for the state of Louisiana in September 2008, for Hurricane Gustav. Hebron and Kimball admitted to lying to the government by overstating the use of town vehicles and equipment and hours worked by town employees to receive government funds to which they individually and the town of Ball were not entitled. Hebron served as mayor of Ball, Louisiana from 1988 until 2011.

Hebron and Kimball face a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Hebron and Kimball remain free on bond pending their sentencing hearing which is set for May 6, 2011.

This case was investigated by Special Agent Randolph J. Deaton, IV of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Special Agents Rick Perry and Steven Monachello of the United States Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan and First Assistant United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.