SABINE PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — A Florida man was arrested for allegedly bilking a Louisiana school district for more than a quarter-million dollars.
In November 2024, the Sabine Parish School Board was targeted by a fraudster, Wiley M. Howell, 59, in what the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations called a Business Email Compromise, leading to a scheme that defrauded the district of $251,972.00.
According to LBI, a school board employee was persuaded to, unwittingly, send an ACH payment to an out-of-state bank controlled by the perpetrator. The payor believed that the payment was made to a legitimate vendor for the metal detectors on school campuses.
Wiley, a resident of Florida, was identified by investigators as the recipient of the funds through an extensive process that included tracing the stolen funds through various bank and cryptocurrency accounts, which Howell depleted almost immediately. Agents also discovered that Howell transferred some of the stolen funds to unknown accomplice(s) they believe operate outside of the United States.
“Funds meant to protect students were stolen through an alleged fraud scheme, and that will not be tolerated by my office. Great work by my Louisiana Bureau of Investigation agents for tracking this case across State and even international lines. We will continue to hold those who target Louisiana’s schools and taxpayers fully accountable,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill.
A warrant was issued for Howell through the 11th Judicial District Court in Sabine Parish, charging him with two counts of theft by fraud over $25,000, six counts of illegal transmission of monetary funds, and two counts of money laundering.
Law enforcement in Pinellas County, Florida, arrested Howell on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, in accordance with LBI’s arrest warrant. Howell was extradited to Louisiana on Saturday, January 10, 2026, and booked into the Sabine Parish Jail.