Former Finance Director Convicted of Fraud

BATON ROUGE, LA—United States Attorney Donald J. Cazayoux announced that the Kiamani A. Beasley, 27, of Jeanerette, Louisiana, pled guilty today before United States District Court Judge James J. Brady to defrauding the Louisiana Association of Community Action Partners, a non-profit organization that receives funding from the federal government’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Program. Beasley faces a sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.

Louisiana Association of Community Action Partners was established to organize and strengthen the 42 private and public Community Action Agencies (CAAs) in Louisiana. CAAs were established to address the effects and causes of poverty and to increase self-sufficiency among the poor. CAAs implemented many education and health programs funded by the federal government. As Finance Director of Louisiana Association of Community Actions Partners, Beasley was responsible for overseeing the financial integrity of the organization, including the accounting and distribution of federal funds.

At today’s hearing, Beasley admitted that on multiple occasions from September 5, 2011 until on or about November 2, 2011, she used her position of trust to embezzle $50,858 that was to be used for computer software training and weatherization services.

The investigation of this matter was conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Reginald E. Jones.