U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that RICKY P. TEMPLET, age 53, of Mandeville, was indicted today for Theft of Government Funds and Aggravated Identity Theft.
According to court records, this investigation was initiated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”), Office of Inspector General (“VA-OIG”) after the VA determined TEMPLET was fraudulently obtaining VA benefits. The VA-OIG determined that TEMPLET had become his mother’s VA Fiduciary the day before his mother passed away in 2013. As a VA Fiduciary, TEMPLET was obligated to notify the VA when his mother passed away. After his mother’s death, TEMPLET received and deposited sixteen U.S. Treasury checks totaling approximately $26,441. TEMPLET was arrested by Special Agents with the VA-OIG at the St. Tammany Parish Jail. He will appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on Friday morning.
U. S. Attorney Polite reiterated that the Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, TEMPLET faces a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine as to Counts 1-16 and he faces a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years as to the Aggravated Identity Theft charge (Count 17).
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Fraud Unit Chief, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba.