Former Executive Director Of Kirksville-Based Victim Support Services Indicted For Mail Fraud

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri:

September 10, 2020

ST. LOUIS, MO – On August 20, 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Kimberly LeBaron on three counts of mail fraud. The 61 year old is a resident of Kirksville. LeBaron appeared, today, in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Nannette A. Baker for her initial appearance/arraignment.

According to the indictment, between January 2016 and June 30, 2018, LeBaron, Executive Director of Kirksville-based Victim Support Services (VSS), submitted several false and fraudulent invoices for funding under a Department of Justice Victims of Crime Administrators grant. VSS provided services, including shelter and advocacy, to people experiencing domestic violence.

The invoices submitted by LeBaron contained false information, specifically inflated numbers related to shelter stays. In many cases, LeBaron and VSS turned away clients claiming the shelter was full. In fact, the shelter was often not full and sometimes vacant. As a result, of LeBaron’s fraudulent actions, the DOJ paid approximately $173,000 in grant funds to VSS.

For each count of wire fraud, LeBaron faces a maximum punishment of 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. LeBaron is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Department of Justice and Office of Inspector General investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Box is handling the case.

This press release was produced by the US Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri. The views expressed here are the author’s own.