Former Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Civil Deputy Diverted Public Funds for Personal Use

The former chief civil deputy for the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office diverted public funds totaling at least $108,976 to herself and possibly to other employees for personal use, according to an audit report issued Monday by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office.

In September 2014, Evangeline Parish Sheriff Eddie Soileau was notified by his bank that then-Chief Civil Deputy Rebecca Devillier deposited a large check from a sheriff’s office bank account into her personal account. Sheriff Soileau notified the Louisiana State Police and the sheriff’s office’s independent auditor. Ms. Devillier was terminated on September 30, 2014. After further investigation, state police arrested Ms. Devillier for issuing unauthorized checks to herself.

State police requested the state auditor’s office investigate additional transactions that Ms. Devillier processed during her employment.

Auditors found that from August 2011 to September 2014, “Ms. Devillier issued unauthorized checks using Sheriff Eddie Soileau’s signature stamp, failed to deposit cash collections, and falsified and destroyed accounting records to conceal her actions,” according to the report.

The investigative audit also noted that office records indicate, “Ms. Devillier used the office credit card to make unauthorized purchases totaling $6,005” from November 2013 to September 2014. Sheriff Soileau and sheriff’s office administrator Sarah Brown stated that Ms. Devillier did not have permission to incur these charges.

The report has been turned over to the District Attorney for the 13^th Judicial District of Louisiana.