New Orleans Resident Indicted for Defrauding the Louisiana Road Home Program and the Small Business Administration
| U.S. Attorney’s Office May 18, 2012 |
NEW ORLEANS—Dr. David G. Millaud, age 52, a resident of New Orleans, was charged today in a two-count Indictment by a federal grand jury for theft of government funds in connection with his applications to the Louisiana Road Home Program and the Small Business Administration, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the indictment, prior to and during the time of Hurricane Katrina, Millaud resided in his primary residence located on Rhodes Drive in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is alleged that in 2006, Millaud applied for funds from the Louisiana Road Home Program, claiming that a second home he owned on Gentilly Boulevard—which was unhabitable during the time of Hurricane Katrina—was his primary residence at the time of the storm. According to court documents, as a result of his applications, Millaud received approximately $149,000 in Louisiana Road Home Program funds to which he was not entitled.
The indictment also indicates that Millaud applied for and received a disaster business loan from the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) to restart his dental practice after it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. After the loan was approved, Millaud faxed false invoices to the SBA to induce them to disburse some of the loan funds to him. Shortly after submitting the false invoices to a SBA loan officer, the SBA disbursed approximately $56,400 to Millaud to repay him for the funds he falsely claimed to have spent on computer equipment for his dental practice.
If convicted on all counts, Millaud faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Jim Letten reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General; Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis.