Gonzales woman pleads guilty in Road Home fraud

Eva Baptiste of Gonzales pleaded guilty to theft of government funds in connection with a Louisiana Road Home Program application, according to a news release by U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

Baptiste applied in2005 for financial assistance for Hurricane Katrina damage sustained on a property at 3301 N. Roman St., New Orleans, which she listed as her primary residence during the storm, Letten said.

In 2007 she submitted a second application, claiming a different primary residence and receiving an additional $110,420, according to the release.

Letten said Baptiste later confessed that the second application was false.

U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey set sentencing for June 2.

The defendant faces a possible maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment, three  years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.