Last week, it was announced that a Webster Parish man had been indicted for taking more than $1 million from a federal feeding program. The money was meant for low-income children. 58-year-old Thomas Quarles of Cotton Valley, Louisiana was indicted by a federal grand jury. He has been charged with five counts of forged securities of the states and private entities, five counts of theft of government property and 27 counts of money laundering.
The indictment explains that Quarles served as the director of the Greater Horizons Development Services. The nonprofit was based out of Webster Paris. It received reimbursements from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Summer Feeding Service Program. Greater Horizons submitted more than $1 million in reimbursement claims that inflated the number of eligible meals provided.
After the nonprofit received the money, Quarles wrote checks that appeared to be payable to vendors and other third parties. However, he deposited the money into a personal financial account. At this point in time, the defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Further details can be found here.
