Kevin Thompson, a 39-year-old resident of New Orleans, and Nina Thomas, a 34-year-old resident of Austin, Texas, are facing a range of federal charges. These charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering, drug trafficking, and firearm offenses. The U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans made the announcement regarding the superseding indictment on December 13, 2024.
From September 6, 2021, to December 13, 2024, Thompson and Thomas allegedly schemed to defraud Thomas’s former husband, referred to as “Victim 1.” They accomplished this by transferring funds from his legitimate bank accounts into fraudulent accounts they created.
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Thomas and Thompson are accused of setting up an email account in Victim 1’s name and leveraging it to create new bank accounts. Subsequently, they illicitly transferred funds from Victim 1’s legitimate accounts to the fraudulent ones under their control, as revealed in court documents.
After receiving the funds, the duo allegedly withdrew substantial amounts of cash, often reaching up to $300,000, and splurged on luxurious purchases. Among their extravagant buys were a $28,796 Hermes Birkin handbag and a $52,890 Porsche Panamera. The illicit scheme supposedly commenced following Thomas’ divorce filing from Victim 1 in 2020, and subsequently embarking on a romantic relationship with Thompson in 2021.
Thompson faces not only fraud charges but also allegations of drug trafficking and firearm violations. According to reports, on June 9, 2023, Thompson was found in possession of 500 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute. Additionally, he was allegedly in possession of a Springfield Hellcat nine-millimeter pistol, which was believed to be connected to the drug trafficking offense.
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If found guilty, both defendants could face severe consequences. Thompson and Thomas may each be sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison, along with a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release, for the wire fraud charges. Additionally, for the aggravated identity theft charges, they could be subject to a mandatory two-year sentence that would run consecutively to any other sentence, as well as a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release. Furthermore, the money laundering charge carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, along with a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
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Thompson is confronted with further charges relating to drug trafficking. If convicted, he could face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, with a maximum of 40 years. In addition, he may be required to pay a fine of $5 million and be subject to at least four years of supervised release. Furthermore, Thompson is also charged with a firearm offense, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and the possibility of life imprisonment. He may also face a fine of $250,000 and be placed under five years of supervised release.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation that led to the current case. Assistant U.S. Attorney André Jones, who is part of the Narcotics Unit, is heading the prosecution.
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