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Date: 03-16-2019

Case Style:

United States of America v. Chad Lightfoot

Case Number: 3:17-cr-00274-TAD-KLH

Judge: Terry A. Doughty

Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana (Ouachita Parish)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Tennille M. Gilreath and Allison D. Bushnell

Defendant's Attorney: Walter M Caldwell

Description:




Monroe, LA - Federal jury finds Chalmette resident guilty of using Monroe property to illegally receive disaster funds

Chad Lightfoot, 47, of Chalmette, Louisiana, was convicted by a federal jury for using an address at a Monroe house that he did not live in to receive disaster payments. The jury returned the guilty verdict after deliberating for approximately one hour. United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided over the trial that began Monday, March 11, 2019 and ended today.

Evidence presented at trial showed that Lightfoot owned an abandoned, unoccupied property in Monroe, but lived in Chalmette. After a federal disaster was declared on March 13, 2016 following severe storms and flooding in Northeast Louisiana, Lightfoot applied for disaster grant assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for damage to the property he owned on South Fourth Street in Monroe. Lightfoot listed his primary residence as Monroe on his FEMA application, and prior to the property’s inspection by FEMA on March 30, 2016, Lightfoot obtained a Louisiana Identification Card to appear as though he lived there. He also submitted a fraudulent cable bill to FEMA to establish proof of occupancy. As a result of his fraudulent claims, FEMA sent Lightfoot $23,684 on April 4, 2016 for repairs. Lightfoot also submitted two appeals to FEMA, which included $115,669 and $122,500 in repair estimates.

Lightfoot faces up to 30 years in prison, five years supervised release, and a $250,000 fine per count, and restitution. The court set sentencing for July 3, 2019.

The Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation.


Charge:


DISASTER ASSISTANCE FRAUD - Fraud Scheme in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits
(1)

Outcome: 03/14/2019 124 ORAL MOTION for Reconsideration of Rule 29 Judgment of Acquittal by Chad Lightfoot (1). (crt,Bray, K) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 125 ORAL MOTION for Declaration of Mistrial by Chad Lightfoot (1). (crt,Bray, K) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 126 MINUTES for proceedings held before Judge Terry A Doughty: JURY TRIAL Day 4 as to Chad Lightfoot (1) held on 3/14/2019. Oral Ruling denying 124 MOTION for Reconsideration of Rule 29 Judgment of Acquittal; denying 125 Motion for Declaration of Mistrial as to Chad Lightfoot (1). Sentencing set for 7/3/2019 11:00 AM in Monroe, 2nd floor before Judge Terry A Doughty. (Court Reporter: Debbie Lowery) (crt,Bray, K) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 127 ORDER as to Chad Lightfoot (1): The Court orders food and beverages be provided to the jury during deliberations at the court's expense. Signed by Judge Terry A Doughty on 3/14/2019. (crt,Bray, K) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 128 EXHIBIT LIST by USA as to Chad Lightfoot (1) (crt,Bray, K) (Additional attachment(s) added on 3/15/2019: # 1 Exhibit 1 pgs 1-40, # 2 Exhibit 1 pgs 41-81, # 3 Exhibit 1 pgs 82-167, # 4 Exhibit 2, # 5 Exhibit 3, # 7 Exhibit 4, # 8 Exhibit 5, # 9 Exhibit 6, # 10 Exhibit 8, # 11 Exhibit 9, # 12 Exhibit 10, # 13 Exhibit 11, # 14 Exhibit 12, # 15 Exhibit 13, # 16 Exhibit 14, # 17 Exhibit 15, # 18 Exhibit 16, # 19 Exhibit 17, # 20 Exhibit 18, # 21 Exhibit 19, # 22 Exhibit 20, # 23 Exhibit 21, # 24 Exhibit 22, # 25 Exhibit 23) (Crawford, A). (Additional attachment(s) added on 3/15/2019: # 26 Notice of manual attachment) (Crawford, A). (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 129 WITNESS LIST filed under seal by USA, Chad Lightfoot (1) as to Chad Lightfoot (1) (crt,Bray, K) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 130 JURY INSTRUCTIONS as to Chad Lightfoot (1) (crt,Bray, K) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 131 JURY NOTES (Restricted Access) as to Chad Lightfoot (1) (crt,Bray, K) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 132 JURY NOTE RESPONSE (Restricted Access) as to Chad Lightfoot (1) (crt,Bray, K) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 133 JURY VERDICT (restricted access) as to Chad Lightfoot (1) Guilty on Count 1. (crt,Bray, K) (Entered: 03/15/2019)
03/14/2019 134 JURY VERDICT - Redacted as to Chad Lightfoot (1) (crt,Bray, K) (Entered: 03/15/2019)

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Defendant's Experts:

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