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NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that Arlene Tranchina, age 55, of Laplace, was charged in a one-count Bill of Information with bank fraud on November 6.

According to court records, Tranchinawas employed as the office manager for a company located in Reserve, Louisiana. From 2017 to October of 2019, she embezzled approximately $234,000 from her employer by making over ninety (90) checks for company expenses payable to herself or cash.

Tranchina faces a sentence of up to thirty years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, up to five years of supervised release and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Secret Service, along with assistance from the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera is in charge of the prosecution.