(NEW ORLEANS)---Three suspects from Tangipahoa Parish and one from Baton Rouge have pled guilty in connection with a federal probe of federal childcare programs, according to U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

Letten reports that 45-year-old Lafete Tucker of Amite, 45-year-old Janice Fulton-Gardner of Kentwood, and 36-year-old Gregory Vernon of Baton Rouge pled guilty on Monday, August 18, to conspiracy to defraud the United States. He adds that 50-year-old Shirley Freeman of Amite pled guilty on Thursday, August 7, to theft of employment and training funds.

Court documents indicate that Tucker submitted false vouchers to the federal government for services not rendered and expenses not incurred, receiving more than $114,000. Letten says that Gardner submitted false vouchers alleging the lease of computers and office equipment which were never leased and submitting fraudulent vouchers for payment regarding social services not rendered, receiving more than $78,000.

Letten also says that Vernon authorized reimbursement for child care vouchers submitted by Freeman, knowing they were false, and received several thousand dollars in kickbacks from Freeman. He adds that Vernon also received some $44,500 through fraudulent vouchers for payment for counseling services he never rendered.

As for Freeman, Letten says that she submitted vouchers attesting that she provided child care for the same children at the same time, unlawfully obtaining $60,000 in duplicate child care reimbursement.

Tucker, Gardner, and Vernon face a maximum of five years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Their sentencing is set for Thursday, November 20. Freeman faces a maximum of two years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and one year of supervised release. Freeman will be sentenced on Thursday, November 13.

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