NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – May 17, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — SANJOY BHATTACHARYA, age 56, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced today in federal court by U. S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to serve three years probation and pay a $15,000 fine, after pleading guilty to one count of making false statements to an agency of the United States, announced U. S. Attorney Dana J. Boente.
According to court documents, on or about September 21, 2007, BHATTACHARYA applied for funds from the Louisiana Road Home Program claiming his primary residence at the time of Hurricane Katrina was at 2436-38 Joseph Street, New Orleans, a property he knew was leased to and inhabited by his tenants at the time of the storm. As a result of his false statements in the application, BHATTACHARYA received approximately $84,423 from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, which he paid back to the government in February 2013.
The case was investigated by agents with the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julia K. Evans.
Contact:
ANNA CHRISTMAN
PHONE: (504) 680-3171
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/LAE
FAX: (504) 589-4978
