New Orleans Lawyer Indicted For Defrauding Client’s Family

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - On Friday, March 13, 2026, a Federal Grand Jury indicted TANZANIKA RUFFIN ("RUFFIN"), age 48, for wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.

According to the indictment, RUFFIN defrauded approximately $250,000 from her clients' family. RUFFIN made numerous misrepresentations to the family regarding the $250,000. RUFFIN falsely told her client and his family that they had to compensate a New Orleans Police Department ("NOPD") officer for various fictitious injuries and harms that the officer had allegedly suffered. RUFFIN also falsely represented that she had confected a "Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement" ("NDA") with the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office and the NOPD officer. According to RUFFIN, this fabricated NDA required her client's family to keep confidential any discussions about a financial settlement. In truth and in fact, no such NDA existed. Instead, RUFFIN spent all the money on personal and unauthorized expenditures and did not give any funds to the NOPD officer.

If convicted, RUFFIN faces a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years of imprisonment, up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. United States Attorney David I. Courcelle of the Eastern District of Louisiana and Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Public Integrity Unit are in charge of the prosecution.

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