Published: 11-21-2025 | Category: Press Release
LAFAYETTE – United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller announces that during the federal government shutdown, the United States Attorney’s Office continued its critical work making the community safer by charging and resolving many significant pending cases in the Western District of Louisiana.
The following case was one where defendants were charged or sentenced to prison during the federal government shutdown:
Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux, 35, of Rayne, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison on November 6, 2025, after pleading guilty to wire fraud in connection with a federal program fraud scheme she was involved in with her father and sister. Babineaux served as Senior Program Manager for Regional Nutrition Assistance, Inc. (RNA), a Sponsoring Organization for the Child and Adult Food Program which is a federal program operated by USDA and administered by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE). RNA would submit provider claims monthly to LDOE for payment and disburse payments to providers. Babineaux submitted fraudulent claims and received payment for them.
Babineaux’s father, Brian Desormeaux, 64, and Babineaux’s sister, Amy Desormeaux Hernandez, 38, have both pled guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced on February 3, 2026. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Louisiana State Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren L. Nickel.
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 94095, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9095
PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 602 North 5th Street, Suite 621, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
PHONE NUMBER: (225) 342-4262 | FAX NUMBER: (225) 342-6761
FRAUD AND ABUSE HOTLINE: 866-201-2549
