An Orleans Parish resident has been hit with charges of theft of government funds, and the case has the locals chatting. Karen Duckworth, aged 66, from the big easy, New Orleans, faces allegations of nabbing social security benefits that were improperly paid into her deceased mother’s bank account. This purported scheme wasn’t a flash in the pan—documents claim it’s been ongoing since January 2009 and didn’t wrap up until August 2024, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
If Duckworth is found guilty, she could be staring down the barrel of a ten-year imprisonment sentence, not to mention a possible fine of up to $250,000. There’s more—a supervised release for up to three years after the imprisonment and a special assessment fee of a hundred bucks could follow. While this might sound like the justice system is throwing the book at her, Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson made sure to point out that a bill of information is merely a charge. “The guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” Simpson said as per U.S. Attorney’s Office…