A Louisiana father and his two daughters stole over $500,000 from a federal program designed to feed hungry children, diverting taxpayer funds meant for vulnerable kids into their own pockets through an elaborate five-year fraud scheme.
Story Snapshot
- Brian Paul Desormeaux and daughters Amy Hernandez and Lenzi Babineaux defrauded USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program of $500,000-plus over five years
- Family submitted fabricated fire marshal inspection reports and falsely claimed reimbursements for non-participating childcare providers through their Lafayette nonprofit
- Desormeaux sentenced to three years in federal prison; daughters each received one year and one day sentences
- USDA Deputy Secretary condemned the fraud, highlighting how families exploited programs meant to protect America’s most vulnerable children
Family-Run Nonprofit Becomes Fraud Machine
Brian Paul Desormeaux, 64, operated Regional Nutrition Assistance, Inc., a Lafayette-based nonprofit that sponsored sites participating in the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program. For approximately five years ending in 2024, Desormeaux enlisted his daughters Amy Desormeaux Hernandez, 38, and Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux, 35, in a conspiracy to submit fraudulent reimbursement claims to the Louisiana Department of Education. The family fabricated state fire marshal inspection reports and filed claims for childcare providers they knew were no longer participating in the program, systematically stealing funds intended to feed at-risk children and adults.
Federal Crackdown Brings Justice
The scheme unraveled following a joint investigation by the FBI New Orleans Field Office, USDA Office of Inspector General, and Louisiana Office of Inspector General. Lenzi Babineaux received her sentence first in November 2024, while her father and sister faced sentencing on February 3, 2025. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller emphasized the gravity of their crimes, stating the family “stole food out of Louisiana’s children’s mouths.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren L. Nickel prosecuted the case, securing wire fraud convictions against all three defendants. This case underscores persistent vulnerabilities in government nutrition programs that taxpayers fund to help struggling families.
Betrayal of Public Trust and Taxpayer Dollars
The Child and Adult Care Food Program operates by reimbursing qualified sponsors for meals served at approved childcare and adult care facilities, relying on honest reporting and verified inspections. The Desormeaux family exploited these trust-based mechanisms, knowing federal bureaucrats struggle to verify every claim submitted through state channels. FBI Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp declared his agency “will not tolerate those who steal from the mouths of the hungry,” while USDA Inspector General John Walk noted the family “exploited a vital nutrition program for their own financial gain.” This fraud exemplifies how government overreach and excessive program spending create opportunities for bad actors to game the system.
Taxpayers Left Holding the Bag Again
The $500,000-plus stolen by the Desormeaux family represents money that could have fed legitimate program participants across Louisiana. Beyond the direct financial loss, this fraud erodes public confidence in federal nutrition assistance programs and may burden honest nonprofit sponsors with additional bureaucratic oversight. USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden tweeted condemnation of the scheme in February 2026, warning that “fraud is not a business families should get into” and praising investigators for protecting program integrity. The case highlights a troubling pattern where lax oversight of massive federal spending programs invites fraud, leaving hardworking taxpayers to cover losses while vulnerable populations lose access to intended services. Stronger accountability measures and reduced program complexity could prevent similar schemes from victimizing both taxpayers and those genuinely in need.
Sources:
Family Fraud: Father, Two Daughters Convicted in $500k USDA Nutrition Program Scam – Townhall
