In the following press release Edmund A. Booth, Jr., United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced today the return of a one count indictment against Augusta resident LATOYA DAWKINS, charging her with Making a False Statement on a Loan Application, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1014.

The indictment alleges that on June 5, 2007, within the Southern District of Georgia, Dawkins knowingly and willfully made a materially false statement in connection with a mortgage loan application for the purpose of influencing the actions of an area bank. Specifically, the indictment charges that Dawkins falsely and fraudulently certified that she had truthfully completed the entire mortgage loan application submitted to the bank, and that she had correctly listed her employment and income, when in truth, and as she well knew at the time, another person completed the majority of the mortgage loan application and falsely reported her income and employment information.

Booth noted that, if convicted, Dawkins faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years imprisonment, a fine of $1,000,000, and, a period of supervised release of five years. An initial appearance has not been scheduled.

Booth stressed that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated by agents in the Augusta office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The government is being represented by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton R. Bourne, Jr.