U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of Louisiana, Sept. 18, 2020
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that on September 19, 2020, WILLIAM LEWIS, age 41, and JILL LEWIS, age 40, residents of Slidell, Louisiana, were charged in a two-count Indictment for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 1341, and Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c).
According to Court documents, beginning on or before January 31, 2014 through in or around January 2016, the defendants conspired to submit numerous false insurance claims for reimbursement to the United States Postal Service (“USPS”), causing the USPS to mail checks to WILLIAM and JILL LEWIS for approximately $42,000. For example, WILLIAM and JILL LEWIS falsely represented to the USPS that they had sent expensive jewelry and other items through the mail and that the USPS lost the items. In connection with the false claims, WILLIAM and JILL LEWIS submitted forged invoices from retailers to the USPS to support the reimbursement amounts. The false claims and forged documents caused the USPS to send the reimbursement checks to the defendants through the mail.
In addition, according to Court documents, on or about September 29, 2015, the defendants submitted a false claim to the USPS, fraudulently representing that WILLIAM LEWIS purchased an Omega watch in the amount of approximately $4,999 and that the USPS lost the watch in the mail. This false and fraudulent claim for reimbursement caused the USPS to send a $4,999 reimbursement check to WILLIAM LEWIS that he deposited in his bank account.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years of imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000, and restitution to the USPS in the amount of approximately $42,000.
U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser praised the work of the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, for its work in investigating this case. U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that the Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sharan E. Lieberman.
Link.