A Dermott woman who was indicted in April, accused of participating in a scheme to steal federal funds intended to feed children in low-income areas, pleaded guilty Monday to a federal wire-fraud conspiracy charge.
Kattie Lannie Jordan, 50, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright, who will sentence her at a later date. She faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Jordan and another woman, Jacqueline D. Mills of Helena-West Helena, operated as sponsors for separate feeding programs funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the state Department of Human Services, according to the indictment. It said that as part of the conspiracy, their programs were approved by DHS employees Gladys Elise Waits, formerly known as Gladys Elise King, of England and Tonique D. Hatton of North Little Rock, whose jobs included determining eligibility of sponsors.
The indictment alleged that Jordan and Mills made bribe payments to Hatton and King in exchange for the two employees protecting them from scrutiny. Jordan and Mills were accused of submitting inflated numbers of meals purportedly served from their feeding sites in order to obtain reimbursement through the federal program.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, Mills is charged with wire fraud, paying bribes and engaging in money laundering, and King and Hatton are charged with accepting bribes.
King, Hatton and Mills are scheduled to stand trial beginning Jan. 4.
King and Hatton are accused of accepting nearly $250,000 in bribes in checks alone from Mills and others who haven't been identified. U.S. Attorney Chris Thyer said in December, after the original indictment was handed up, that Mills had transferred nearly $1 million, out of $2.5 million she received through DHS to feed hungry children, into her personal bank account or others that she controlled. The indictment was updated in April to add Jordan.
"Jordan and others stole money that was intended to feed poor and hungry children," Thyer said Monday in a news release. "We are pleased that Ms. Jordan has accepted responsibility for her conduct."
Thyer said again Monday that if anyone is aware of any fraudulent activity regarding the feeding programs, they should email the information to his office at USAAREFeedingProgramFraud@usdoj.gov.
Metro on 08/04/2015