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ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Deonne Drawdy, 50, of Pollock, Louisiana, was sentenced  by United States District Judge David C. Joseph to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for committing wire fraud.  Drawdy was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $374,331.30.

According to evidence presented to the court, Drawdy was employed at the architectural firm of Barron, Heinberg, and Brocato (BH&B) in Alexandria, Louisiana from approximately 2007 to 2020 as the bookkeeper and financial director. Some of her duties as an employee there included issuing checks to vendors.

In 2020, BH&B noticed suspicious activity in the firm’s accounts and an audit was conducted. Law enforcement agents with the United States Secret Service joined in the investigation. Their investigation revealed that on or about January 7, 2019, Drawdy issued a check on the firm’s bank account made payable to Meyer, Meyer, Lacroix & Hixson. Drawdy fraudulently endorsed the check and deposited it into her personal bank account on January 10, 2019 and converted those funds for her own personal use.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan.