Fraud schemes with fake docs land ex-investigator in court

Ex-New Orleans investigator sentenced for years of public fund fraud schemes

Leessa Augustine, a former senior investigator for the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans, has been sentenced for running multiple fraud schemes. The crimes involved fake documents, stolen public funds, and false billing while she held positions in city agencies.

Augustine pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and one count of making false statements. She created fake leases and termination letters to claim emergency rental assistance. She also billed a police detail customer for hours she never worked.

Her fraud extended to federally funded unemployment benefits, which she improperly collected. Court records show she exploited public programs while working for the Sewerage & Water Board and serving as a reserve officer with the New Orleans Police Department. Fake documents were used to secure federally backed loans and grants. During her time as a senior special agent, she received support from Captain Eddie Compass, then-Superintendent of the NOPD. He endorsed her work, particularly during crisis response efforts like Hurricane Katrina in 2005. A judge sentenced Augustine to six months of home detention and five years of supervised release. She was also ordered to repay $94,972 in restitution.

The case closes with Augustine facing financial penalties and supervised release. The sentence follows her admission of defrauding public programs while holding trusted city roles. The restitution order covers the full amount she obtained through deception.