Today, the ex-wife of a former warden for the Avoyelles Correctional Center pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to United States Attorney David C. Joseph.
Tonia Bandy Cain, 43, of Moreauville, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to the guilty plea, Nathan Burl Cain II, 51, also of Moreauville, was the warden of Avoyelles Correctional Center located in Cottonport, Louisiana, and Tonia Cain served as the manager of the business office of the facility. They are accused of using Louisiana Department of Corrections credit cards to purchase items for personal use while misrepresenting that the items were bought for official use between December 2012 and January 2016. The defendants are also accused of structuring purchases to evade state purchasing restrictions.
Tonia Cain faces up to 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The court set sentencing for October 9, 2018. Nathan Cain was indicted for one count of conspiracy and 17 counts of wire fraud.
The FBI and the Louisiana Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Luke Walker and David J. Ayo are prosecuting the case, stated Joseph.
