March 24, 2015

New Orleans Woman Charged with Stealing Federal Grant Money from Open World Family Services

NEW ORLEANS—U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that KIM CASSELL, age 42, of New Orleans, was charged in a one-count Bill of Information last Friday with stealing money from Open World Family Services, Inc. (“Open World”). Open World was a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable corporation organized for the purpose of helping students in the greater New Orleans area grow academically.

According to the Bill of Information, from March 2010 until June 2012, CASSELL knowingly used more than $140,000 in federal grant money for her personal benefit, rather than for its intended educational purposes.

If convicted, CASSELL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years, three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and restitution to the United States Department of Education.

U.S. Attorney Polite reiterated that the Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the U.S. Department of Education, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of the Louisiana Legislative Auditor in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharan E. Lieberman is in charge of the prosecution.