Contractor Fraud Nets Louisiana Woman Heavy Sentence

A 61-year-old woman has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for stealing more than $200,000 from victims who paid for modular homes in New Orleans.

The Times-Picayune reports Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Robin Pittman sentenced Cecilia Slattery Tuesday.

Slattery had agreed to a plea deal that would have kept her out of prison altogether, had she repaid the more than $200,000 she stole from at least 10 victims who dropped down payments or paid in full for new homes.

But when it came time to pay up at an August hearing, Slattery failed to show. Authorities found Slattery in Florida.

Her attorney, Patrick Giraud, shook his head after the sentencing, saying he had no idea Slattery would skip out of court and risk going to prison.