AG: Daughter of deceased Louisiana teacher accused of over $269,000 in benefits fraud

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A woman is accused of fraud tied to her deceased mother’s Louisiana retirement benefits account.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation received an assistance request from the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) about fraud allegations.

TRSL officials learned an unknown person was getting benefits in the name of a deceased educator, Loretta Jacobs. The officials said the teacher died in December 2011. According to the affidavit, Jacobs’ death was not reported until April 2024.

During the investigation, agents found evidence that Ila Marcela Jacobs, 49, was a suspect in the case. Jacobs was identified as the deceased teacher’s daughter. Evidence revealed that between December 2011 and April 2024, Jacobs allegedly defrauded TRSL of over $269,000.

Jacobs was arrested in Pensacola, Florida, on July 28 and was extradited to Louisiana on July 31. She was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a charge of government benefits fraud.

This is an ongoing investigation.

Attorney General Liz Murrill commented on recent government fraud arrests.

“The Attorney General’s Office is on a roll with these Government Benefits Fraud arrests – protecting the money of the hard-working taxpayers of this State. If you are illegally receiving government benefits and taking advantage of the system here in Louisiana, even if you live in a completely different state like this woman, we will find you and bring you back for Louisiana justice.”
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill

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