The former fiscal director of Louisiana's Department of Health and Hospitals stole more than $1 million in taxpayer money over a six-year period and spent more than $600,000 of it at a local casino, CBS WAFB reports.
She has been charged with theft by fraud, money laundering and malfeasance in office and faces a prison sentence of up to 115 years:
According to reports, Deborah Loper, 46, was put in charge in 2006 of managing a bank account opened to fund the National Association of State Human Services Financial Officers' 2009 winter conference, which was held in Louisiana. After the conference ended, Loper was told to close the account.
Authorities say Loper faked and submitted documents to show that the account was closed. She changed the address on the account so she could receive all mail for the account at her home. Over a six-year period, March 2007 through January 2013, Loper is accused of depositing checks totaling $1,058,446.27 into the account.
She abruptly resigned from DHH in February 2013 after finding out the account had been frozen by the bank for potential fraudulent activity and was officially terminated in March.