United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the sentencing of Penelope Passero, a 50-year-old resident of Westwego, Louisiana, for theft of government funds. The sentencing took place on December 10, 2024. Passero was found guilty of accessing and converting approximately $59,320.97 in Social Security Administration and CARES Act funds from February 2016 to December 2020.
Passero received a sentence of time served for Count 1 of the indictment from United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter. Additionally, she was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee along with restitution amounting to $59,320.97.
In response to pandemic-related fraud, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force on May 17. This task force aims to enhance efforts against fraud by collaborating with various agencies across the government. It focuses on investigating and prosecuting both domestic and international criminal actors involved in pandemic-related schemes.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, is handling the prosecution.
For those with information regarding COVID-19 fraud allegations, reports can be made through the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via their online complaint form.