Slidell woman pleads guilty to misappropriation of $780K COVID-19 relief funds
SLIDELL, La. (WGNO) — A Slidell woman pled guilty to theft and misappropriation of COVID-19 Relief funds on Wednesday, April 10.
According to court documents, Melissa J. Watson, of Slidell, pled guilty to theft of public money in connection with a scheme to misappropriate over $780,000 from the Provider Relief Fund, a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Watson pled guilty to submitting false and fraudulent attestations on behalf of the primary care clinic she operated to obtain PRF funds.
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Watson used the PRF funds intended for the clinic for personal purposes, including making cash withdrawals and purchasing hundreds of thousands of dollars in real estate, a luxury vehicle, a boat and trailer and a time share condominium.
The government seized over $500,000 in bank accounts held by Watson, along with several assets, including a boat and trailer and a Range Rover Sport car.
Watson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
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