THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

EASTERN DISTRICT of CALIFORNIA

NEWS

United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner
Eastern District of California

CORCORAN RESIDENT ARRESTED FOR STUDENT AID FRAUD

Fresno, Calif. — Vera Reed, 55, of Corcoran, was arrested today on an indictment previously returned by a federal grand jury, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

The indictment charges Reed with financial aid fraud and theft of government property, and alleges that she falsely claimed to be a high school graduate so she could obtain federal Pell Grants totaling $14,812 to attend Fresno City College and West Hills College in Lemoore. Reed will be arraigned by U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on March 27, 2013, at 1:30 p.m.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Mark J. McKeon is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Reed faces a maximum statutory penalty for financial aid fraud of five years in prison, and the maximum statutory penalty for theft of government property of 10 years in prison. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

The charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.