Federal prosecutors have charged an East Baton Rouge Parish School System employee on a felony count of conspiracy, saying she took part in a scheme to fraudulently acquire COVID funds for fake businesses.
Kenyall Williams, 38, of Baton Rouge, was named in criminal charges filed in federal court Monday, accusing her and an unnamed male co-conspirator of filing applications for federal tax relief made available under the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act.
Between November 2022 and April 2023, Williams — an Instructional Specialist for the Baton Rouge school district — and the co-conspirator filed relief applications for fake businesses and fraudulently received at least $100,000 from the government, authorities said. The criminal charges do not appear to be connected to her employment with the school district.
According to court records, the co-conspirator claimed that the fake businesses were entitled to large tax credits from the IRS and the department of treasury.
The co-conspirator recruited Williams and others to assist in the scheme and gave them a portion of the proceeds, investigators wrote in the criminal complaint.
"When doing so, he would identify associates, including Williams, as officers and agents of the businesses," prosecutors said.
Neither Williams nor her attorney immediately returned requests for comment.
The man sent checks to Williams from a fake U-Haul business in Missouri. In March 2023, Williams registered a company with Louisiana authorities and opened a bank account for the company using her name.
At least $65,000 of funds acquired from CARES Act relief were sent from Williams to her co-conspirator in April 2023. Weeks later, Williams received some of that funding back, as the man transferred around $10,000 to accounts she controlled.
Williams was hired by the Baton Rouge school district in August 2022.
Perry Robinson, a spokesperson for the district, confirmed that Williams is still currently employed by the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, according to the district's Chief Human Resources Officer.
The spokesperson said they will "review the allegations," as they had not learned of the criminal charges until Tuesday.
On July 1, Williams waived her right for a grand jury to review any evidence against her. An arraignment in Louisiana Middle District Court is set for July 30.
If convicted, Williams would face a fine of at least the amount defrauded or imprisonment for up to five years.