A Jefferson Parish resident, Jelissa Lacour, age 36, pleaded guilty on August 14, 2025, to two counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. The plea was entered before United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier, according to an announcement by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
Court documents show that Lacour admitted to obtaining multiple Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans using false tax forms and securing Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds in the names of several supposed renters. In some cases, the fraudulent PPP and ERAP applications were submitted for her accomplices who aimed to benefit from these actions. In other instances, Lacour used the identities of others without their knowledge to receive payments.
At sentencing, Lacour could face up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and up to three years of supervised release per count. Each aggravated identity theft count carries a potential sentence of two years in prison followed by one year of supervised release. Each count may also result in a fine up to $250,000 and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation into this case. Assistant United States Attorney Chandra Menon from the Public Integrity Unit is prosecuting the matter.
“JELISSA LACOUR (“LACOUR”), age 36, a resident of Jefferson Parish, pleaded guilty on August 14, 2025 before United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier to two counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft,” announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
According to court documents: “LACOUR admitted that she obtained numerous Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans using falsified tax forms, and that she fraudulently obtained Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds in the names of numerous purported renters. In some instances, the PPP and ERAP applications were for her accomplices who sought to benefit from the fraudulent applications, while in other instances, LACOUR misused others’ identities to obtain payments in their names.”
“At sentencing, LACOUR faces up to 20 years of imprisonment, to be followed by up to three years of supervised release for each wire fraud count, and two years of imprisonment, to be followed by up to one year of supervised release, for each aggravated identity theft count. Each count is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.”
“The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chandra Menon of the Public Integrity Unit.”
