Ponchatoula Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft from Organization Receiving Federal Funds

ANALYSIS · September 4, 2026 · USAO Eastern District of Louisiana Slug: ponchatoula-crawford-federal-funds-theft

Primary source

Rachel Crawford a/k/a Rachel Davenport / Monjure / Haygood, 47, of Ponchatoula, pleaded guilty to 18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(1)(A) — theft from an organization receiving federal funds.
As CFO, withdrew about $162,209.61 cash for personal use (~May 14, 2021–May 8, 2025); altered bank statements; about $9,254.81 unauthorized organization credit-card purchases (plane tickets, cosmetic dermatologist); admitted conduct to agents.
Potential exposure (not imposed): up to 10 years, up to 3 years supervised release, fine up to $250,000, $100 special assessment.
Sentencing set December 16, 2026 before Judge Greg G. Guidry.
U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle; AUSA Maria M. Carboni.

Claim	Assessment	Receipt
This is a sentencing	No — plea only	USAO PR announces guilty plea; sentencing scheduled Dec 16, 2026.
~$162,209.61 cash / ~$9,254.81 card	Approximate figures per plea docs	Treat as approx. amounts tied to plea admissions, not a final restitution judgment.
Up to 10 years / $250k fine	Statutory max exposure, not imposed term	Potential penalties listed in PR; no sentence yet.

Typically a DOJ / USAO wire reprint. Ground News / multi-outlet map: coverage not mapped this pass.

Publish-ready ANALYSIS draft · Storm Wire · 2026-09-07 · for /analysis/ponchatoula-crawford-federal-funds-theft