Louisiana state audit director charged with fraud

nola.com ^ | updated April 09, 2014 at 10:51 AM | By Emily Lane

[topher]

Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services auditing director Delrice Augustus has been formally charged fraud for allegedly buying personal items with a government purchasing card, U.S. Attorney Walt Green announced Wednesday.

Augustus, 34, of Baton Rouge, is currently on leave as director of the bureau of auditing and compliance services for DCFS, an agency that receives over a billion dollars in federal funds, a U.S. Attorneys office press release says. A bill of information says that from 2010 though March 2014, Augustus used government purchasing cards for a dishwasher, televisions, I-Pads, hotel rooms gas and other personal items.

[topher]

Picture of Louisiana State Audit Director that is charged:

[topher]

Friend of Obama to be pardoned by Obama...

[unixfox]

Gee, so surprised.

[Mark17]

Someone audited the auditor.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Needs to be more of that. Who watches ‘the watchers’?

[topher]

Republican Governor — the criminal, I mean, government worker should have known better...

[V_TWIN]

“currently on leave as director of the bureau of auditing and compliance services for DCFS”

With pay no doubt.

[topher]

"With Pay" -- Not Governor Jindal has his way.

They are searching for extra bucks for the budget. Might as not pay the perp...

[Mark17]

Needs to be more of that. Who watches ‘the watchers’?

That is the exact phrase I was thinking of.

[Lazamataz]

I think we need to be careful in giving certain people positions of power.

[AppyPappy]

He was just trying to get over.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks topher.

[topher]

This guy might have risen to this position under Democratic governors of Louisiana. There was a Democratic governor that was in charge of Louisiana when Hurricane Katrina hit...

Of course, if certain folks get thrown out of office, they may claim racial bias.

[topher]

In Saint Landry Parish (Louisiana does not have counties), there was an African-American husband-wife team on the school board. They were convicted of 'buying grades' from Southern University.

The guy was the head of the school board of that parish.

His position is currently vacant, though they have a new school board head.

I think he is on his way to prison (Angola state prison).

Someone told me back in the 1970's a guy whose name was 'Pugee Mote' (spelling?) was re-elected in Louisiana for a local office, but could not serve as he was in prison.

But he did get re-elected despite being in prison...

[topher]

In Saint Landry Parish (Louisiana does not have counties), there was an African-American husband-wife team on the school board. They were convicted of 'buying grades' from Southern University.

They bought grades to show they had 'Masters Degrees' that in fact they did not have.

School Board members involved in 'grade fraud' and diploma fraud...

[blueunicorn6]

Nobody robs banks anymore. I’m sorry, but jail time is not deterring the government thieves. We are going to have to hang a few of them.

[The Cajun]

Question number 1:

Who appointed this clown?

[topher]

That is a good question.

However, if there was not a Republican governor, I don't think guy would have gotten caught.

I saw things changing for the better after Jindal took office.

Before that things were a real mess (such as at the employment office -- seems like 'druggees' worked helping people get jobs.

Bobby Jindal has been in office for a while, so it could have been him. Or it could possibly be Kathleen Blanco.

The previous Democratic Governor (Blanco) could have helped this person reach a person that he would be appointed by the next Governor.

[topher]

WAFB (Channel 9) states that DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier was shocked about the activities of this clown.

Sounds like she might have given him the job. There may not have been any 'flags' that appeared in background checks.

And the DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier might have had some hand in his appointment or recommending his appointment...

One would have to look at who hired whom (DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier and Mr. Augustus).

[topher]

WAFB Channel 9 article on this:

DCFS employee accused of illegally buying DVDs, TVs, iPads, dishwasher & more

It is unclear which administration hired who, but given that Augustus is only 34, sounds like someone who rose through the ranks in the Jindal Administration.