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Former DCFS Audit Director Sentenced Today

September 24, 2014

BATON ROUGE - Delrice Augustus, former director of the Bureau of Auditing and Compliance Services for the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), was sentenced today for theft from a federally funded entity.

Augustus pleaded guilty on May 28 to using a state credit card for more than $25,000 in personal purchases.

"We are pleased that justice has been served for the citizens of the state of Louisiana," said DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier. "DCFS has no tolerance for fraud of any kind. I am proud that our internal checks and balances uncovered this elaborate scheme which involved multiple criminals.

"I am appreciative of our strong partnerships with State Police, Office of Inspector General, FBI, US Attorney's Office, Legislative Auditor, and the office of the District Attorney, all of whom provided support and assistance during our investigation of this matter. We worked closely with all of these entities, from the beginning, to ensure that this crime was meticulously investigated and aggressively prosecuted. It has always been my personal commitment to ensure that public funds are protected and that fraud is prevented, eliminated and addressed through the criminal justice system."

On March 18, 2014, DCFS fiscal employees questioned purchases made on a state credit card assigned to Augustus' Administrative Assistant, which prompted further investigation and subsequent findings. Within 24 hours of the discovery, Augustus was arrested by state police and a more in depth investigation launched. The investigation eventually led to the identification and prosecution of two additional DCFS employees, both of whom are awaiting sentencing for their role in this scheme.