A Florida man has been arrested and charged in connection with a sophisticated fraud scheme that cost the Sabine Parish School Board more than $250,000, according to the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI).
Agents with Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Louisiana Bureau of Investigation began working the case after receiving a request for assistance from the Sabine Parish School Board regarding allegations of fraud. Investigators determined that in November 2024, the school board fell victim to a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme.
As part of the scam, a school board employee was unknowingly persuaded to send an Automated Clearing House (ACH) payment totaling $251,972 to an out-of-state bank account controlled by the perpetrator. The payment was made to what appeared to be a legitimate vendor for the purchase of metal detectors intended for use at Sabine Parish school campuses.
LBI agents identified Wiley M. Howell, a Florida resident, as the individual who received the stolen funds. The investigation revealed that Howell quickly depleted the accounts after receiving the money. Agents also discovered that a portion of the stolen funds was transferred to unknown accomplices believed to be operating outside the United States. The investigation involved tracing the funds through multiple banks and cryptocurrency accounts.
Based on the findings, LBI agents obtained an arrest warrant issued by the 11th Judicial District Court in Sabine Parish. Howell faces multiple felony charges, including:
Two counts of Theft by Fraud over $25,000
Six counts of Illegal Transmission of Monetary Funds
Two counts of Money Laundering
Authorities in Pinellas County, Florida, arrested Howell on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, pursuant to the LBI warrant. He was extradited to Louisiana on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, and booked into the Sabine Parish Jail. Howell has not yet appeared before a judge to receive a bond.
Officials say the investigation remains ongoing as agents continue to pursue additional leads and potential accomplices connected to the scheme.