Pair Charged with Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, and Money Laundering in Slidell

Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that Jamar Howard, 38, and Charennyia Carmouche, 31, of Slidell, were charged in a recently unsealed twelve-count indictment with conspiracy to commit offenses, wire fraud, false statement in loan application, money laundering, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute carfentanil. The indictment alleges that Howard and Carmouche submitted false loan applications and used the obtained funds for personal enrichment. If convicted, they face severe penalties, including imprisonment, fines, and supervised release.

Key Takeaways:

• Jamar Howard, 38, and Charennyia Carmouche, 31, were charged in a twelve-count indictment with conspiracy to commit offenses, wire fraud, false statement in loan application, money laundering, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute carfentanil.
• The indictment alleges that Howard and Carmouche submitted false loan applications between 2023 and 2024, using altered bank statements and false tax documents to obtain approval.
• The duo used the loan proceeds for personal enrichment, and Carmouche engaged in monetary transactions with criminally-derived property.
• Howard faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years for wire fraud, thirty years for false statement in loan application, and life imprisonment for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute carfentanil.
• Carmouche faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years for money laundering and five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
• The defendants also face payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for each count.
• The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Briana Williams of the Narcotics Unit.
• This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative designed to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime.

Statistics:

• The indictment contains twelve counts, including conspiracy to commit offenses, wire fraud, false statement in loan application, money laundering, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute carfentanil.
• The duo obtained loan proceeds totaling an unspecified amount.
• Howard and Carmouche used the loan proceeds for personal enrichment, including purchasing goods and services not associated with their legitimate business or personal interests.

Sources:

• Office of the United States Attorney, District of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana
• United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration
• Office of the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance