Middle District of Louisiana
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 292 Months in Federal Prison for Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Forrest Hardy, age 33, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 292 months in federal prison following his convictions for interference with commerce by robbery. The Court further sentenced Hardy to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered that the firearm involved be forfeited.
According to admissions made during his plea, on or about January 7, 2020, at approximately 6:41 p.m., Hardy, while wearing a mask, entered the Boost Mobile Store, located at 8180 Scenic Hwy, Baton Rouge, which is across the street from Baton Rouge Police Department’s Fourth Precinct police station, and pointed a firearm at an employee. After Hardy demanded money kept in the cash registers, the employee complied with Hardy’s demands, who removed and pocketed the cash. Hardy then fled from the store and ran to a 1999 Lexus SUV.
Following investigative leads, the following day, detectives identified the vehicle driven by Hardy and developed him as a suspect of this robbery. Video cameras captured images of Hardy’s car enabling detectives to identify Hardy’s vehicle as a gold-colored Lexus, bearing distinct coloring on the right front quarter panel.
On January 8, 2020, at approximately 7:20 p.m., Hardy, while wearing a green jacket and a black mask over his face, entered a Metro PCS cellular phone store, located at 1966 North Foster Dr., Baton Rouge. Hardy then pointed a loaded Glock, model 22, .40 caliber pistol, with an extended magazine and a weapon-mounted flashlight at an employee and demanded cash from the register. He removed the cash from the register and pocketed it. While aiming his firearm at the employee, Hardy demanded the cash that the business kept in its safe in the storage room. Concerned for his safety, the victim led the robber to the storage room. From his vantage point, the victim observed Hardy rummaging through the safe. Following the robbery, Hardy fled the premises in same vehicle, the 1999 Lexus SUV, he used the night before. Notably, the day before the robbery the safe contained an Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max and after the robbery the Apple iPhone Pro Max was no longer in the safe.
Later, on the evening of January 8, 2020, at approximately 8:25 p.m., law enforcement officers with the Baton Rouge Police Department stopped Hardy in the 1999 Lexus SUV, which bore the distinct coloring on one of its sides. Law enforcement officers observed, in plain view, a black handgun with an extended magazine, and a black mask on the front passenger seat. Police thereafter arrested Hardy.
A day or so later, during the execution of a search warrant on the 1999 Lexus SUV, law enforcement personnel found an assault style firearm, a .40 caliber Glock semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine, stolen cash, a ski mask, the gloves used by Hardy during the robberies, and ammunition.
Previously, Hardy had been convicted of armed robbery in East Baton Rouge Parish in 2007 and convicted of second-degree battery and false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon in Lafayette Parish in 2019.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Baton Rouge Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert W. Piedrahita and Jeremy S. Johnson.
Texas Man Indicted in Federal Court for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury recently returned a three-count indictment charging James Martin, age 50, of Beckville, Texas, with distribution of child pornography. Martin appeared for his arraignment and pled not guilty to the pending charges.
According to the criminal complaint that preceded the indictment, between July 2022 and August 2022, Martin sent more than 250 sexually explicit videos and photographs of young children, including toddlers, to an undercover FBI agent in the Middle District of Louisiana.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, and the Panola County, Texas Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana Observes Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. joins the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), advocates, survivors, victim service providers, justice professionals, police and first responders, and communities across the U.S. in observing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM).
Domestic violence is more prevalent than many realize. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime. Approximately one in four women and one in seven men will experience severe domestic violence in their lifetimes; however, rates are disproportionately higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, women of Color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and two-spirit people, and people with disabilities. DVAM provides an opportunity to spread awareness about domestic violence and encourage everyone to play a role in ending gender-based violence.
“Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an opportunity for our Office to remind the community that we are here and available to support victims and survivors of the Middle District of Louisiana,” said U.S. Attorney Gathe. “Often times, the community may not know we are here to assist in these matters. We look forward to working with our local partners to strengthen our community’s awareness of available resources.”
Keeping guns out of the hands of violent offenders is a priority both locally and nationwide. Statistics indicate that domestic violence offenders who have access to firearms are five times more likely to kill their partners than those who do not have access to a firearm. Under federal law, it is unlawful for anyone convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence or subject to a protective order to buy a gun. It is also against the law for offenders to possess, carry, or shoot firearms. The penalty for violating Federal firearms prohibitions is up to ten years imprisonment.
In September 2020, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana developed a screening and referral process to identify domestic violence cases appropriate for federal prosecution. Through this initiative, our office works closely with state and local agencies to prioritize the prosecution of offenders subject to federal firearms prohibitions, and to train law enforcement on these and other federal domestic violence crimes.
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. Announces $91,149 in Justice Department Grants to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $91,149 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the Middle District of Louisiana. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant, to Baton Rouge Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Foundation (Foundation), is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities; supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place; setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
U.S. Attorney Gathe stated, “The Project Safe Neighborhoods grants have been an important resource in the fight against violent crime in Baton Rouge. It has provided funding for manpower and technical resources which have aided the apprehension of violent criminals.”
“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
National Center for Disaster Fraud Warns of Fraud After Hurricane IanRead the Press Release
In the wake of extreme devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) today issued a reminder that as with any major disaster, there are unscrupulous thieves who seek to take advantage of the environment to line their own pockets.
“Fraudsters targeting individuals who are already suffering from the impact of Hurricane Ian is despicable and an inexcusable crime,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe Jr., who serves as the Executive Director of the NCDF. “We are still in hurricane season, and it is important for people to be on the lookout for fraudsters who seek to profit from natural disasters through identity theft schemes and solicitations for fake charities. This is especially true for the citizens of Florida, South Carolina and other states impacted by Ian. The Department of Justice, through U.S. Attorney Offices across all states and territories of the United States, are committed to detecting this type of fraud and will aggressively prosecute the offenders.”
The NCDF, a national coordinating agency, was created by a partnership between the Department of Justice and various law enforcement and regulatory agencies. Its goal is to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for the victims of such fraud.
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, there is no indication that criminals will slow down their efforts to commit fraud on individuals already victimized by the storm. The following examples of disaster-related fraud are based on over 200,000 historical complaints submitted to the NCDF:
- Fake charities immediately soliciting donations using the names of well-known charities or appearing reasonable as related to a disaster
- Individuals impersonating government officials and insurance company representatives advising that disaster assistance will be made available should the potential victim provide a sum of money or personal identifiers such as date of birth, social security number and bank account information (name of financial institution, routing number and account number)
- Individuals soliciting victims to invest in non-existent businesses and ventures offering recovery efforts such as cleanup, rebuilding and making structures, such as homes, more resistant to future disasters by elevating structures to minimize future flood risks
- Individuals overcharging for goods and services needed by victims of disaster, also known as price-gouging
In addition, based on the type of disaster, individuals are frequently victimized by theft of property from businesses and residences abandoned because of a disaster (either pre-disaster evacuation or to obtain living accommodations because of damaged apartments and homes).
Recommended measures to avoid becoming a victim of disaster fraud:
- Only make donations to known charities and only after contacting the charity directly and not in response to an email, instant message, phone call, text, etc. A recommended step is to research the charity by visiting recognized charity information/rating websites such as the Give.org, CharityNavigator.org and CharityWatch.org
- Never click on a link in an unsolicited email, instant message, text, etc.
- Never assume that charity solicitations posted on the internet and social media are legitimate
- Avoid cash donations to charities - use a credit card or pay with a check
- Never transmit donations to a specifically named individual
- Charities do not seek donations via electronic fund (financial institution)/wire transfers, so do not wire donations
- Avoid being victimized by impersonators of government officials, insurance companies, investment companies, etc., by terminating the phone call or other exchange of information (e.g., email, texts) and calling the actual government agency, insurance company, and/or investment company directly using a well-advertised phone number or email address
Individuals who have been targeted by fraudsters or been the victim of disaster-related fraud are encouraged to contact the NCDF at (866) 720-5721 or online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm.
Justice Department Awards Nearly $1.5 Million to Area Foundation to Prevent and Reduce Violent Crime in Baton RougeRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that the Reclamation and Restoration Ministries (RRM) has received $1,498,637 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs and its component, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, to prevent and reduce violent crime in the Baton Rouge area.
RRM is an organization located in Baton Rouge that promotes social and community wholeness by actively developing and implementing relevant and life-changing ministries and programs that will prevent and/or deliver youth and adults from violence, crime, truancy, drug abuse, homelessness, and prison.
With this grant, RRM will implement its Ready4Life Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Project in Baton Rouge Police District #4 that includes Scotlandville, Southern Heights, and Brookstown. One of the unique characteristics of the Brookstown neighborhood revealed by analysis is that the per capita income of residents is lower than that found in 97.7% of the neighborhoods in America. Also of note, 81.3% of the children in this area live in poverty and crime rates are higher than the national average.
For more information about this award, please contact the OJP Office of Communications at 202-307-0703 or [email protected].
Middle District of Louisiana Takes Part in Department’s Wide-Ranging Efforts to Protect Older AdultsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today the results of its efforts over the past year to protect older adults from fraud and exploitation. During the past year, the Department and its law enforcement partners tackled matters that ranged from mass-marketing scams that impacted thousands of victims to bad actors scamming their neighbors. Substantial efforts were also made over the last year to return money to fraud victims. Today, the Department also announced it is expanding its Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force to amplify efforts to combat scams originating overseas.
We are intensifying our efforts nationwide to protect older adults, including by more than tripling the number of U.S. Attorneys’ offices participating in our Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force dedicated to disrupting, dismantling and prosecuting foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This expansion builds on the Justice Department’s existing work to hold accountable those who steal funds from older adults, including by returning those funds to the victims where possible.”
U.S. Attorney Gathe stated, “The protection of older adults from all forms of abuse is among our highest priorities at the Department of Justice. Older adults are targeted by some of the most sophisticated criminals, and it requires the coordinated resources of all law enforcement partners to bring these offenders to justice.”
During the period from September 2021 to September 2022, Department personnel and its law enforcement partners pursued approximately 260 cases involving more than 600 defendants, both bringing new cases and advancing those previously charged.
In the Middle District of Louisiana, Shawn Phillips was prosecuted and convicted for defrauding an elderly man out of over $50,000. Phillips befriended the victim and took advantage of that friendship to get the victim to “loan” Phillips money over a 16-month period with no intention of paying it back. Phillips was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison and ordered to pay full restitution to the victim.
Additionally, a member of a nationwide computer fraud scheme that defrauded elderly victims out over $340,000 was brought to justice in the Middle District of Louisiana. Mohammad Alam pled guilty for his role in the scheme. As the money mule, he assisted the fraudsters by receiving money from victims of fraud and forwarded it to the fraud organizers, some of whom were located abroad.
The Department also highlighted three other efforts: expansion of the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, success in returning money to victims and efforts to combat grandparent scams.
The Department announced that as part of its continuing efforts to protect older adults and bring perpetrators of fraud schemes to justice it is expanding the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, adding 14 new U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Expansion of the Strike Force will help to coordinate the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat largest and most harmful fraud schemes that target or disproportionately impact older adults.
In the past year, the Department has notified over 550,000 people that they may be eligible for remission payments. Notifications were made to consumers whose information was sold by one of three data companies prosecuted by the Department and were later victims of “sweepstakes” or “astrology” solicitations that falsely promised prizes or individualized services in return for a fee. More than 150,000 of those victims cashed checks totaling $52 million, and thousands more are eligible to receive checks. Also notified were consumers who paid fraudsters perpetrating person-in-need scams and job scams via Western Union. In the past year, the Department has identified and contacted over 300,000 consumers who may be eligible for remission. Since March of 2020 more than 148,000 victims have received more than $366 million as a result of a 2017 criminal resolution with Western Union for the company’s willful failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and its aiding and abetting of wire fraud.
Over the past year, the Department pursued cases against the perpetrators of “grandparent scams,” otherwise known as “person-in-need scams.” These scams typically begin when a fraudster, often based overseas, contacts an older adult and poses as either a grandchild, other family member or someone calling on behalf of a family member. Call recipients are told that their family member is in jeopardy and is urgently in need of money. When recently sentencing one of eight perpetrators of a grandparent scam indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a federal judge described such scams “heartbreakingly evil.” The Department is working with government partners and others to raise awareness about these schemes.
Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professional who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting or connect them with agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.CST. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov.
Some of the cases that comprise today’s announcement are charges, which are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking Task Force Investigation Leads to Charges Against Six Individuals for Firearm and Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. has announced that an investigation into a drug trafficking organization based out of East Baton Rouge Parish has resulted in a federal grand jury indictment leading to the arrest of six individuals on various drug trafficking and firearm offenses.
According to the Indictment, the defendants engaged in an extensive drug trafficking venture where they distributed large quantities of cocaine and heroin in the Middle District of Louisiana. Agents seized over $250,000 in illegal drug proceeds, luxury vehicles, heroin, cocaine and marijuana, and thirteen firearms during the investigation.
Charged and arrested as part of this investigation were the following individuals:
Francisco Palma, age 42, formerly of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, unlawful travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise, unlawful use of communications facilities, and money laundering.
Marco Antonio Filos, age 40, of Marrero, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, unlawful travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise, and unlawful use of communications facilities.
Juan Villareal, age 37, of Roma, Texas, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, and unlawful use of communications facilities.
Richard Antunez, age 33, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, distribution of cocaine and heroin, and unlawful use of communications facilities.
Clarence Corey Anderson, age 44, of Prairieville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, and unlawful use of communications facilities.
Brittany Adell Allison, age 33, formerly of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, unlawful use of communications facilities, and money laundering.
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office, and Baton Rouge Police Department. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Kleinpeter.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Baker Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Wire Fraud and Making False Statements in Connection with CARES Act COVID-19 Pandemic AssistanceRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Chanda Hall, age 44, of Baker, Louisiana, to 26 months in federal prison following her convictions for wire fraud and making false statements. Upon release from imprisonment, Hall will serve two years of supervised release. The Court further sentenced Hall to pay a $5,000 fine, $25,000 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and a $25,000 money judgment to the United States.
According to facts presented at trial, the SBA is an agency of the United States government that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The CARES Act is a federal law enacted in or around March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other relief, the CARES Act expanded the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which provides loans for small businesses and other eligible entities.
In May 2020, Hall submitted her first EIDL application. Although she submitted the application in the name of a company that she had formed in 2010, the company’s registration with the Louisiana Secretary of State had been revoked in 2015, and at the time Hall submitted this application, the company had not been reinstated, and it had no bank account. On June 16, 2020, the SBA denied the application.
The very next day, on June 17, 2020, Hall submitted another application, in the name of a purported non-profit corporation, First Home Foundation (“First Home”), that she had formed earlier that year. Hall signed the application and certified that all of the information provided was true. In the application, among other statements, Hall stated that: (a) First Home had been established in 2017; (b) as of January 31, 2020, First Home had five employees; (c) First Home’s gross revenues in 2019 were $60,000; and (d) First Home’s cost of goods sold for the same twelve-month period was $30,000. When asked whether she had been convicted of or pled guilty to a felony within the last five years, Hall claimed that she had not.
As Hall knew at the time, all of the above statements were false. As the United States proved at trial, First Home did not have the revenues or expenses that Hall had claimed in her application, and Hall had misrepresented her criminal history, which included a recent felony conviction. Moreover, as the United States proved at trial, Hall was given multiple opportunities to withdraw the application or explain that she had misunderstood the application process, and she repeatedly provided false information and lied to those charged with investigating her application.
Hall was convicted after a June 2022 trial, and at the sentencing, the Court specifically found that she had obstructed justice in the investigation and prosecution of the case, including by providing false testimony at the trial.
This matter was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Small Business Administration-Office of Inspector General, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alan A. Stevens, who also serves as Senior Litigation Counsel, and Caroline B. Gardner.
Denham Springs Woman Pleads Guilty to Making and Subscribing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Lakeisha Grayer, age 41, of Denham Springs, Louisiana, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles to making and subscribing false tax returns.
According to admissions made during her plea, Grayer owned and operated a tax preparation business, Genesis Tax Service, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For tax years 2015, 2016, and 2017 identified in the indictment, Grayer prepared and electronically filed federal income tax returns for over 950 taxpayers. She charged her clients a fee for preparing and filing their tax returns.
Grayer reported her income from Genesis Tax Service on a Schedule C form attached to her personal income tax return, on which she reported her business's gross receipts. For each year listed in the indictment, the amount of gross receipts Grayer reported to the IRS on her returns using the Schedule C was substantially lower than the actual amount. In addition to the counts charged in the indictment, Grayer knowingly underreported her gross receipts for tax years 2018, 2019, and 2020.
The aggregate amount of all known tax loss, for tax years 2015 through 2020, is over $180,000.
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Harley Ferguson.
Former CEO of St. Gabriel Health Clinic Convicted of $1.8 Million Medicaid Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
After a week-long trial, a federal jury convicted the former CEO of St. Gabriel Health Clinic Inc. for conducting a multi-year, multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud the Louisiana Medicaid Program.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Victor Clark Kirk of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was the CEO of St. Gabriel Health Clinic Inc. (St. Gabriel), a Louisiana non-profit corporation that provided health care services to Medicaid recipients and others. St. Gabriel was a federally qualified health center (FQHC) that contracted with the Iberville Parish School Board to provide medical services within the school district. As a FQHC, St. Gabriel could provide primary care services to students as well as services related to the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses – provided that such services were medically necessary – among other requirements.
Evidence at trial showed that St. Gabriel practitioners, at Kirk’s direction, provided character development and other educational programs to entire classrooms of students during regular class periods. Kirk then caused the fraudulent billing of these programs to Medicaid as group psychotherapy. To facilitate the fraudulent scheme, Kirk directed that St. Gabriel practitioners falsely diagnose students with mental health disorders. From 2011 through 2015, Kirk caused over $1.8 million in fraudulent claims for purported group psychotherapy services.
Throughout the week, the federal jury heard testimony from former practitioners and employees of St. Gabriel, as well as former employees of East Iberville Elementary & High School and MSA East, two Iberville Parish schools where St. Gabriel operated satellite clinics. The jury also heard testimony from parents whose children received false Axis-I mental health diagnoses in their medical records as part of the fraudulent scheme.
U.S. Attorney Ronald Gathe, Jr. stated, “The Medicaid program was established to provide healthcare to those most in need. This verdict demonstrates that the Department of Justice, along with our federal and state partners, will marshal the necessary resources to protect the vulnerable who rely on that program as well as the taxpayers who fund it.”
"I am proud of my office’s work with our law enforcement partners to help achieve this conviction,” said Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry. “The mental health of our State’s most vulnerable, especially in our youth, should not be jeopardized or compromised by fraudsters. I would also like to applaud our Special Agent Joseph Springer for his exceptional work that helped secure this conviction.”
“Any time greed replaces medical necessity as the primary factor in behavioral health services, our most vulnerable citizens are imperiled,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Richards of the HHS Office of Inspector General's (OIG) Dallas Regional Office. “Our HHS OIG agents will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate providers who will stop at nothing to loot the Medicaid program.”
“Today’s guilty verdict sends a clear message that individuals like Mr. Victor Clark Kirk who engage in healthcare fraud will not go undetected and will be held accountable. The FBI is determined to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who are committing healthcare crimes to enrich themselves at the expense of others,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams, Jr. “We thank our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana, the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Fraud Section, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General for their strong partnership and unrelenting pursuit of justice.”
Kirk was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and five counts of health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison per count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. for the Middle District of Louisiana; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams, Jr. of the FBI; Director Jodi Edmonds LeJeune of the Louisiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU); and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI, MFCU, and HHS-OIG investigated the case, which was brought as part of the Gulf Coast Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen L. Craig for the Middle District of Louisiana and Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
Kirk was initially charged as part of a National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action announced in September 2019, when the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced charges against six (6) individuals for health care fraud in Baton Rouge.
The Gulf Coast Strike Force is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. Since its inception in March 2007, the Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 16 strike forces operating in 27 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Justice Department Awards over $250,000 in Grants to State of LouisianaRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance has awarded $253,191 collectively to the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office was awarded $28,412, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office was awarded $210,193, and the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office was awarded $14,586. These awards will be used to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on each agency’s state and local needs and conditions.
Former CEO of Health Clinic Convicted of Medicaid FraudRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a former CEO of a health clinic for defrauding the Louisiana Medicaid Program over several years.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Victor Clark Kirk, 73, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was the CEO of St. Gabriel Health Clinic Inc. (St. Gabriel), a Louisiana nonprofit corporation that provided health care services to Medicaid recipients and others. St. Gabriel was a federally qualified health center (FQHC) that contracted with the Iberville Parish School Board to provide medical services within the school district. As a FQHC, St. Gabriel could provide primary care services to students as well as services related to the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses – provided that such services were medically necessary – among other requirements.
Evidence at trial showed that St. Gabriel practitioners, at Kirk’s direction, provided character development and other educational programs to entire classrooms of students during regular class periods. Kirk then caused the fraudulent billing of these programs to Medicaid as group psychotherapy. To facilitate the fraudulent scheme, Kirk directed that St. Gabriel practitioners falsely diagnose students with mental health disorders. From 2011 through 2015, Kirk caused over $1.8 million in fraudulent claims for purported group psychotherapy services.
Kirk was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and five counts of health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 12, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison per count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. for the Middle District of Louisiana; Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams, Jr. of the FBI New Orleans Field Office; Director Jodi Edmonds LeJeune of the Louisiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU); and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
The FBI, MFCU, and HHS-OIG investigated the case, which was brought as part of the Gulf Coast Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana.
Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen L. Craig for the Middle District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.
The Health Care Fraud Strike Force is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. Since its inception in March 2007, the Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 16 strike forces operating in 27 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Justice Department Awards over $3.5 Million to State of Louisiana to Prevent and Control CrimeRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that the State of Louisiana has received $3,514,042 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs and its component, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on state and local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice or civil proceedings.
The recipient of this award, the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, is a foundation located in Baton Rouge dedicated to improving the operations of the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems and to promoting public safety by providing progressive leadership and coordination within the criminal justice community.
Dual Resident Doctor Indicted for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury recently returned a one-count indictment charging Melissa Rose Barrett, age 48, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Clive, Iowa, with tax evasion. Barrett appeared for her arraignment and pled not guilty to the pending charges.
Barrett, a physician, owned and operated an urgent care clinic known as Stat Care Clinics, L.L.C. d/b/a Central Stat Care. According to the indictment, for tax years 2007 through 2017, Barrett owed significant taxes totaling approximately $1.6 million, excluding interest and penalties. While not paying her taxes, Barrett made millions of dollars in purchases, including a boat, a personal residence, real property, an airplane, and other items totaling at least $6.7 million.
This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Unit and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Member of Large Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 168 Months in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced the sentencing of Kim K. Murphy, age 57, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as part of Operation Hidden Fee, an extensive federal, state, and local investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) aimed at a drug trafficking network based and operating in Baton Rouge.
Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Murphy to 168 months in federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. Murphy must also serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, Murphy conspired with his co-defendant Travis James and others to obtain, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. Pursuant to court orders, federal law enforcement agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) intercepted communications occurring over the cellular phones used by James. During those court-authorized wiretaps, Murphy brokered multi-ounce transactions of cocaine and crack cocaine for customers. Murphy and James would then set up meetings in Port Allen and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where James delivered those amounts either to waiting customers or to Murphy, who then supplied his buyers.
On or about January 11, 2018, James and Murphy were traveling from Texas to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in different vehicles when each of them were stopped separately for traffic violations. During Murphy’s traffic stop, he gave unreliable answers to law enforcement’s questions. Law enforcement sought and received Murphy’s written consent to search the vehicle wherein a green duffel bag was found in the trunk containing several vacuum sealed bags containing suspected bricked cocaine. Murphy claimed ownership of said bag.
To date, nine members of this large-scale conspiracy have been prosecuted and convicted.
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with invaluable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Baton Rouge City Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. Other agencies also assisted in apprehending the defendants, including the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the Sheriffs’ Offices in Ascension, Iberville, and West Baton Rouge Parishes. These cases were prosecuted Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Piedrahita and Lyman E. Thornton III.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Denham Springs Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Richard Culver, age 41, of Denham Springs, Louisiana, to 240 months in federal prison following his conviction for receipt of child pornography. Following his term of imprisonment, Culver will have to serve six years of supervised release and register as a sex offender for life. Chief Judge Dick also ordered Culver to pay restitution to his victims in the amount of $126,000.
According to admissions made during his plea, from June 6, 2019 to June 8, 2019, Culver posed as a 13-year-old girl and communicated with a 9 year-old girl via a social media application. During those communications, Culver sent the minor victim at least 15 images of child pornography and requested the minor victim to take and send similar photographs of herself to him. Based on Culver’s persuasion, the minor victim sent him images and video, which portrayed the minor victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Louisiana State Police and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jamie A. Flowers, Jr., who also serves as Chief of the Criminal Division.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
Member of Large Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Aron Winter Mosquera-Castro, age 28, of Houston, Texas was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, unlawful travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise, and unlawful use of a communications facility. The Court further sentenced him to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
On June 23, 2021, following a three-day trial, a jury found Mosquera-Castro, guilty of the above charges for his role in a drug distribution ring obtaining heroin from Houston and operating in East Baton Rouge and Ascension parishes. Mosquera-Castro acted as an interpreter for the source of the heroin, negotiated prices with the locals receiving the heroin, and thereafter transported it from Houston, Texas to Ascension Parish for further distribution. Mosquera-Castro is the eighteenth and final member of the drug trafficking organization to be convicted in this matter.
This operation was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Louisiana State Police, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office, West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, Gonzales Police Department, and Baton Rouge Police Department. This matter was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Piedrahita, Jennifer Kleinpeter and William Morris.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Justice Department Awards $70,000 to State of Louisiana to Analyze Criminal Justice DataRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that the State of Louisiana has received $70,003 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs and its component, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, to expand, enhance, and maintain criminal justice data from law enforcement and construct a criminal justice performance retrieval system. The criminal justice performance retrieval system will improve the ability to access statewide criminal justice data for purposes of research, analysis, data sharing and compiling reports to assist Louisiana lawmakers.
The recipient of this award, the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, is a foundation located in Baton Rouge dedicated to improving the operations of the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems and to promoting public safety by providing progressive leadership and coordination within the criminal justice community.
Justice Department Awards Nearly $24 Million in Grants to State of Louisiana to Enhance Crime Victim Services and Compensation PaymentsRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that the State of Louisiana has received $23,554,389 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs and its component, the Office for Victims of Crime, to enhance crime victim services in the State and to enhance State compensation payments to eligible crime victims. Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) compensation funds provide financial assistance to Federal and State victims of crime. The funds are typically awarded by the State to local community-based organizations that provide direct services to crime victims.
The recipient of this award, the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, is a foundation located in Baton Rouge dedicated to improving the operations of the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems and to promoting public safety by providing progressive leadership and coordination within the criminal justice community.
Baton Rouge Man Indicted in Federal Court for Kidnapping, Carjacking, Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury recently returned a four-count indictment charging Treston Isiah Bickham, age 30, of Fluker, Louisiana, with kidnapping, carjacking, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to the indictment, on June 24, 2022, Bickham carjacked and kidnapped the victim. During the commission of these crimes, Bickham used a firearm which he was prohibited from possessing as he was previously convicted of a felony.
This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Baton Rouge Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen L. Craig.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Member of Large Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 90 Months in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced the sentencing of Yascia N. LaFrance age, 42 of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as part of Operation Hidden Fee, an extensive federal, state, and local investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) aimed at a drug trafficking network based and operating in Baton Rouge.
Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced LaFrance to 90 months in federal prison following her convictions of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base. LaFrance must also serve four years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made as part of her guilty plea, LaFrance was the partner of Travis James. LaFrance joined James and others to negotiate for and purchase kilogram quantities of cocaine and heroin in Houston. Their source of supply in Houston, in turn, received the narcotics from Mexico. James and his associates then brought the narcotics to Baton Rouge for sale and distribution. To this end, Travis James maintained local stash houses where he kept hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, stored and cut large quantities of cocaine into smaller distribution amounts, and cooked powder cocaine into “crack” cocaine. LaFrance lived with James at one of those locations, where they concealed large amounts of drug trafficking proceeds. On June 12, 2017, LaFrance delivered $200,000 of those proceeds to other members of the organization who were traveling to Houston to purchase kilogram amounts of cocaine and heroin.
On June 13, 2017, while executing search warrants at the home LaFrance shared with Travis James, investigators seized approximately $280,310 in drug proceeds concealed in the attic and a money counter. An additional $179,000 in cash was seized in another warrant search from Travis James’ safe deposit box at a local bank.
To date, 11 members of this large-scale conspiracy have been prosecuted and convicted.
The investigation is yet another effort by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, which was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the United States Attorney General’s drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises. The OCDETF Program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with invaluable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Baton Rouge City Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police. Other agencies also assisted in apprehending the defendants, including the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the Sheriffs’ Offices in Ascension, Iberville, and West Baton Rouge Parishes. These cases were prosecuted Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Piedrahita and Lyman E. Thornton III.
Donaldsonville Man Sentenced to 140 Months in Federal Prison for Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Christopher John Scieneaux, age 39, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, to 140 months in federal prison following his conviction of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. The Court further sentenced Scieneaux to 5 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made as a part of his guilty plea, between November 22, 2019 and January 23, 2020, the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, Gonzales Police Department, and DEA used a confidential informant to conduct three controlled buys of heroin and fentanyl from Scieneaux. During the buys, law enforcement observed Scieneaux driving one of two vehicles, both of which had been registered to his girlfriend. Officers conducted surveillance at the girlfriend’s residence and confirmed Scieneaux came and went from the home at all times of the day in both vehicles.
On March 13, 2020, a traffic stop was conducted after Scieneaux left said residence, at which time a small amount of narcotics was found in the vehicle, and officers obtained and executed a search warrant at the residence. Officers were able to unlock the residence with a key found in the vehicle driven by Scieneaux.
During the search of the residence, officers located approximately 1300 grams of pure methamphetamine, 903 grams of fentanyl, and two scales (one with white residue) inside the master bedroom closet. Scieneaux’s Louisiana ID was found on top of the dresser in the master bedroom. Inside the dresser, officers found rolling papers, a marijuana grinder with residue, and four more picture identifications belonging to Scieneaux. Under the mattress in the master bedroom, $3,340 in denominations consistent with the sale of narcotics was also located.
The investigation is another effort by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program that was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the United States Attorney General’s drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises. The OCDETF Program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with critical assistance from the Internal Revenue Service, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office and Gonzales Police Department, was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Jarreau, who also serves as Deputy Criminal Chief of the Organized and Violent Crime Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office.
Marrero Man Sentenced to 97 Months in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Philip Evans, age 50, of Marrero, Louisiana, to 97 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of child pornography. The Court further sentenced Evans to serve 5 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and he must register as a convicted sex offender for life.
According to admissions made during his plea, between April 21, 2021 and June 3, 2021, Evans knowingly distributed numerous images and videos of child pornography using the electronic messaging application called WhatsApp.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Pugliese.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
Justice Department Awards Nearly $3 Million in Grants to the State of LouisianaRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance has awarded $2,986,000 collectively to Louisiana State Police and East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office.
Louisiana State Police was awarded $2,300,000 to be used to initiate and host the first Law Enforcement Symposium, focusing on De-Escalation, Use of Force Tactics, Less Lethal Weapons Uses, and Advanced Scenario Training. These symposiums will be in conjunction with the purchase and deployment of Virtual Reality Scenario-Based training platforms.
East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office was awarded $686,000 to be used for a pilot Rapid DNA program for processing reference samples and single-source crime scene evidence. Rapid DNA provides an opportunity to impact investigations by providing investigative leads in real-time.
Former Southern University Professor Sentenced to 24 Months in Federal Prison for Mail Fraud and Money Laundering After Living as a Fugitive in Iran and Turkey for More than a DecadeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Parviz Sharifrazi, age 70, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 24 months in federal prison following his convictions for mail fraud and money laundering. The Court further sentenced Sharifrazi to serve one year of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Today’s sentencing resulted from a federal criminal investigation that began years ago. In 2008 and 2009, Sharifrazi was working as an associate professor at Southern University (“Southern”) and trying to raise money for an unrelated business venture in Iran. Beginning in 2008, he and a co-defendant, who was working as the Information Technologies (IT) Director at Southern’s College of Engineering, conceived a scheme to defraud Southern by submitting fraudulent equipment quotes in the names of fictitious vendors and causing Southern to approve the quotes, while concealing their involvement in the scheme.
In furtherance of the scheme, Sharifrazi’s co-defendant would create fraudulent computer equipment purchase requests, generate fraudulent quotes for the equipment in the name of shell companies that he and Sharifrazi had created, and then submit the fraudulent quotes to Southern’s purchasing department and cause them to be approved. Meanwhile, Sharifrazi caused other individuals to register for mail forwarding services at private mail facilities in Las Vegas, Nevada, Beaverton, Oregon, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Sharifrazi used these mailboxes to deceive Southern. Through their use of shell companies, out-of-state mailing addresses, and other means, Sharifrazi and his co-defendant were able to conceal the fraudulent nature of the purchase requests and the quotes and hide the fact that they were profiting from the scheme.
Between April and November 2008, Sharifrazi and his co-defendant caused Southern to issue 14 checks totaling more than $150,000 to their shell companies and to mail the checks to the out-of-state mailboxes that they had opened. Then, as the defendants gained control of the funds, Sharifrazi would conduct additional monetary transactions and launder the proceeds of the scheme by, for instance, transferring proceeds from the scheme into another bank account that he and a family member in the name of a Denham Springs restaurant.
Sharifrazi was indicted in 2011. By this time, he had left Southern and was living in Iran. After being contacted by federal law enforcement agents, and knowing that the court had issued a warrant for his arrest, the defendant was a fugitive for more than a decade, living in Iran for many years and then moving to Turkey. In mid-2021, the defendant met with agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Turkey and agreed to return to the United States to accept responsibility for his crimes. Earlier this year, Sharifrazi pled guilty to mail fraud and money laundering and admitted his involvement in the fraudulent scheme described above.
Sharifrazi’s co-defendant pled guilty in 2010 and has fully served his sentence, which included both a term of imprisonment and an order to pay restitution to Southern University.
U.S. Attorney Gathe stated, “This prosecution demonstrates that neither time nor distance shall deter the federal government and our partners from obtaining justice. I want to thank our prosecutors and the federal and state law enforcement agencies who made this result possible.”
“This sentencing demonstrates the steadfast work of the FBI and our partners in bringing to justice individuals like former Southern University Professor Parviz Sharifraz, who engaged in fraudulent schemes that grossly impacted Southern University,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams, Jr. “We thank our partners from the U.S. Attorney's Office Middle District of Louisiana, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Louisiana Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General for their collaborative efforts to identify, investigate, and bring to justice criminals who seek to harm American universities through fraud and deceit.”
“Today's sentencing exemplifies the patience and long arm of the law in its pursuit of financial fraud and money laundering violations,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI’s Atlanta Field Office. “Mr. Parviz Shafrazi perpetuated an elaborate scheme driven by his insatiable greed and a blatant disregard for the tremendous damage inflicted on Southern University and its students. Be assured that IRS Criminal Investigation, together with our federal partners, will hold those who engage in similar behavior fully accountable.”
Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street commented, “Justice for Mr. Sharifrazi has been delayed for well over a decade because of his deliberate choice to remain out of the country rather than face the music for his crimes. Today’s sentencing at last brings closure and consequences for a carefully devised criminal scheme to defraud the institution of higher learning at which Mr. Sharifrazi was employed. It also hopefully sends the message that the wheels of justice may sometimes turn slowly, but they do indeed turn. No matter how long it may take, the Louisiana OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue public corruption in all of its forms.” Street added, “I want to commend United States Attorney Ron Gathe and his staff, as well as our partners at the FBI, IRS, and Department of Education OIG for another successful outcome.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Louisiana Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General, with critical assistance from the U.S. Marshal’s Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alan A. Stevens, who also serves as Senior Litigation Counsel for the United States Attorney’s Office.
Donaldsonville Woman Indicted for Mail Fraud and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury recently returned a three-count indictment charging Tynea Lynnshay Gray, age 23, of Donaldsonville and Prairieville, Louisiana, with mail fraud and wire fraud. Gray appeared for her arraignment and pled not guilty to the pending charges.
According to the indictment, between June 2020 and October 2021, Gray submitted claims for unemployment insurance benefits in California in her name and in the names of other individuals. Gray also submitted claims for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) benefits in the names of fictitious businesses and based on fictitious business profits and losses.
Further, Gray obtained names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers of others, and submitted fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits in their names, with and without their knowledge or consent. Gray captured people’s identifying information through social media and used the information to file numerous unemployment insurance claims. Upon submitting the claims and receiving the funds, she either gave a portion of the funds to others or kept all the funds for herself. Through her scheme, Gray obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in prepaid debit cards in the mail.
In February 2021, Gray also devised a scheme to defraud a lender and the United States, through the Small Business Administration, by filing false and fraudulent applications for PPP funds. In furtherance of the scheme, on or about February 2, 2021, she submitted a false and misleading PPP application in the business name of “Royaldiamondzkollection LLC” seeking PPP funds. Gray submitted a forged bank statement, false tax documents, and made misrepresentations in her PPP applications.
Throughout the course of the fraudulent schemes, Gray caused over $550,000 in prepaid debit cards to be mailed to her addresses, to which she and others were not entitled. Additionally, Gray caused $20,833 to be deposited into her bank account, to which she was not entitled.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Labor-OIG and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 78 Months in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Jason L. Istre, age 45, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 78 months in federal prison following his conviction for receipt of child pornography. The Court further sentenced Istre to serve 5 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made during his plea, on or about October 1, 2021, Istre knowingly received files of child pornography via the internet. Additionally, he used sophisticated computer programs to download and store images and videos of child pornography. Istre sought videos and images of minors, knowing they were under 18 years of age, and sought them with the intent to receive child pornography. Istre also possessed 1,700 total videos and approximately 45 images of child pornography, which were accessible through his laptop.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana State Police and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
Honduran National with History of Illegally Reentering the United States Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Franklyn Leonel Venturas-Calderon, age 28, of Villanueva, Cortes, Honduras, to 37 months in federal prison following his second conviction for illegal re-entry into the United States by a removed alien.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on June 28, 2021, agents with the United States Border Patrol came into contact with Venturas-Calderon at the Livingston Parish Detention Center, following his arrest by the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. Based on identifying information he provided during the course of his arrest, Border Patrol confirmed Venturas-Calderon’s true identity as a Honduran citizen. Immigration records and databases establish that Venturas-Calderon has no lawful status to live, work, or reside in the United States, and further, that he has never applied for or been granted permission to enter the United States by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
This sentence follows Venturas-Calderon’s May 9, 2022, conviction for aggravated assault with a firearm in the 21st Judicial District Court, in Livingston Parish, for which he was sentenced to two years at hard labor. The Court specified that Venturas-Calderon’s federal sentence would run concurrently with that sentence.
This matter was investigated by the United States Border Patrol and the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caroline Gardner.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 180 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Alvin Porterie, Jr., age 51, of Port Allen, Louisiana, to 180 months in federal prison following his conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Court further sentenced Porterie to three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered that the firearm involved be forfeited.
According to admissions made as a part of his guilty plea, on December 8, 2020, a Louisiana State Police trooper conducted a routine roadside welfare check on an apparently disabled vehicle in the median on Airline Highway, near Siegen Lane, in Baton Rouge. Porterie and another man were attempting to change the rear tire on the passenger side of the vehicle. While at the scene, the trooper learned that the vehicle had previously been reported stolen. Porterie ultimately admitted to being in possession of a firearm, which was recovered from the vehicle, and to being a convicted felon. Prior to possessing the firearm, Porterie had been convicted of aggravated battery, as well as multiple counts of distribution of cocaine, in Plaquemine, Louisiana.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Louisiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caroline B. Gardner.
Greensburg Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Dogs for Animal FightingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Dangelo Dontae Cornish, age 36, of Greensburg, to 14 months in federal prison following his conviction for possessing pit bulls for use in a dogfighting venture. The Court further sentenced Cornish to serve two years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, Cornish admitted that five pit bulls found at his home in Greensburg, Louisiana, were being held and trained for dogfighting. Cornish was found to be discussing dogfighting with members of the Valley Street drug distribution ring operating out of Baton Rouge, when his telephone calls with a member of the ring and others were intercepted during a wiretap. Cornish discussed gambling on dogfights, breeding dogs, and training dogs for dogfighting. In October 2017, federal law enforcement agents obtained a search warrant for Cornish’s residence. At his home agents found five pit bull-type dogs kept in a manner consistent with dogfighting. The dogs were restrained with heavy chains and either weighted dog collars or ankle weights. Agents also found rudimentary outdoor shelters, veterinary supplements manufactured and distributed in interstate commerce, and a treadmill, which was designed to force dogs to exercise. As part of his plea, Cornish admitted he knowingly possessed each of these five dogs for the purpose of animal fighting ventures, and the dogfighting paraphernalia was possessed for the purpose of training and preparing the dogs for participation in animal fighting ventures. The investigation revealed that dogfights were being conducted in Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia and Mississippi.
In all, from the drug ring case and the animal-fighting venture Cornish is the sixth person to be sentenced to date.
This operation is being investigated the FBI Baton Rouge Capitol Area Gang Task Force, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the United States Marshal Service. This matter is being prosecuted by Matthew D. Evans, Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Washington D.C., and Assistant United States Attorney Lyman E. Thornton III.
Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding an Elderly VeteranRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Shawn Phillips, age 44, of Baton Rouge, to 33 months in federal prison following his conviction for wire fraud, to run consecutively to his pending state charges. The Court further sentenced Phillips to three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $50,718.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, Phillips befriended the victim, then took advantage of that friendship to steal over $50,718 over a 16-month period, January of 2020 to May of 2021. Phillips convinced the victim to loan him the money by claiming he needed to borrow money until his large inheritance came in. Yet, unbeknownst to the victim, at no point was Phillips expecting any inheritance.
Even when Phillips left Baton Rouge and moved to Georgia, he continued his scheme, convincing the victim to send 43 wire transfers from Baton Rouge to Georgia to fund his lifestyle there. Throughout the course of the scheme, Phillips continued his fraudulent assertion that he was waiting on an inheritance, even at points claiming to need additional money from the victim to get the ‘inheritance’ out of the court system.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M.P. Thornhill, who also serves as the Elder Justice Coordinator for the Middle District of Louisiana.
The Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative aims to combat elder financial exploitation by expanding efforts to investigate and prosecute financial scams that target seniors; educate older adults on how to identify scams and avoid becoming victims of financial fraud; and promote greater coordination with law enforcement partners. For more information, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).
Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 74 Months in Federal Prison for Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Darrell Dewayne Waller, age 47, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 74 months in federal prison following his convictions for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, MDMA, and marijuana, and possession of a firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Court further sentenced Waller to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered that the firearms involved be forfeited.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on April 8, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant for Waller’s residence and his vehicle. The searches of the residence and the vehicle yielded a Bersa, Model 380 ACP, .380 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, a Titan, Model 25 ACP, .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Smith & Wesson, Model (TBD), .32 long caliber revolver, and a Beretta USA Corp, Model 92G, 9mm caliber, semi-automatic pistol as well as cocaine base, fentanyl, cocaine, MDMA, and marijuana,
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy S. Johnson.
Justice Department Announces Investigation of Louisiana State PoliceRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that is has opened a pattern or practice investigation into the Louisiana State Police (LSP). This civil investigation will assess whether LSP uses excessive force and whether it engages in racially discriminatory policing. The investigation will include a comprehensive review of LSP policies, training, supervision, and force investigations, as well as LSP’s systems of accountability, including misconduct complaint intake, investigation, review, disposition, and discipline.
“Protecting the civil rights of all Americans and building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve are among the Justice Department’s most important responsibilities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This investigation, like all of our pattern or practice investigations, will seek to promote the transparency, accountability, and public trust that is essential to public safety.”
“Every American, regardless of race, has the right to constitutional policing,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “Based on an extensive review of publicly available information and information provided to us, we find significant justification to investigate whether Louisiana State Police engages in excessive force and engages in racially discriminatory policing against Black residents and other people of color. The Justice Department stands ready to use every tool in our arsenal to confront allegations of misconduct and to ensure legitimacy during encounters with law enforcement.”
The investigation is being conducted pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which prohibits state and local governments from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers that deprives individuals of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. The statute allows the Department to remedy such misconduct through civil litigation. The Department will be assessing law enforcement practices under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as well as under the Safe Streets Act of 1968 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
U.S. Attorney Gathe stated, “Today, this administration will give its best effort into looking into the patterns and practices of the Louisiana State Police and hope to renew faith in the system and provide justice for all.”
“We cannot ignore any allegation of a constitutional violation much less, one alleging a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing,” stated U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. “No one should be deprived of the protections of our federal and state constitutions. We are all equal under the law and entitled to just, efficient, consistent, and constitutional law enforcement.”
U.S. Attorney Brown stated, “In times of attempting to resolve controversy and conflict, the parties involved must get comfortable having uncomfortable conversations. Today, the US Department of Justice has pledged to be a conduit between the Louisiana State Police and community stakeholders, so that open lines of communication can start flowing and any concerns will not fall on deaf ears.”
The investigation is separate from any federal criminal investigation of LSP troopers.
Prior to the announcement, Department officials informed Governor John Bel Edwards, Colonel Lamar Davis, and Deputy General Counsel Gail Holland of the investigation. They pledged to cooperate with the investigation. As part of this investigation, the Department officials will reach out to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with LSP.
The Special Litigation Section of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana will jointly conduct this investigation. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department of Justice via email at [email protected] or by phone at (202) 353-0684. Individuals can also report civil rights violations regarding this or other matters using the Civil Rights Division’s reporting portal, available at civilrights.justice.gov.
Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s Police Reform Work can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/crt/file/922421/download.
Walker Man Faces Federal Charges in Connection with Interstate Transmission of a Threat to Injure Florida CongresswomanRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that a federal arrest warrant and criminal complaint was issued charging Charles T. Germany, age 66, of Walker, Louisiana, with interstate transmission of a threat to injure another.
The criminal complaint and supporting affidavit alleges that, on May 27, 2022, Germany, from his home in Walker, Louisiana, called U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy’s office in Washington DC and left a voice message threatening to kill the Congresswoman. Germany called the Congresswoman’s office again later the same day and left another threatening message. If convicted, Mr. Germany faces a sentence of up to five years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Gathe commended the outstanding actions and efforts of the law enforcement agencies who worked to quickly identify the suspect and bring this complaint, including the United States Capitol Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Kleinpeter.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Federal Law Enforcement Initiative Leads to Charges Against Nine Men for Firearm and Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. has announced that an investigation into a drug trafficking organization based out of Ascension Parish has resulted in a federal grand jury superseding indictment leading to the arrest of nine men on various firearm and drug trafficking offenses.
According to the Indictment, the defendants engaged in an extensive drug trafficking venture where they distributed large quantities of methamphetamine in the Middle District of Louisiana. Agents seized over nine kilograms of methamphetamine and several firearms during the investigation.
Charged and arrested as part of this initiative were the following individuals:
Reshide Wooden, age 25, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Rokedrick Tyrell Williby, age 31, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Denzel Dionte Gray, age 29, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Malcolm Oliver, Jr., age 32, of Napoleonville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Kelly Derrell Jones, age 40, of Gonzales, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
David Burnell Lewis, age 37, of Gonzales, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
Christopher Dee Harrod, age 41, of Prairieville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Blain Joseph Slayton, age 29, of Gonzales, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Robert Jason Slayton, age 51, of Plaquemine, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and task force officers from Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office and Baton Rouge Police Department with critical assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Marshals Service, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Gonzales Police Department, West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Jarreau, who also serves as Deputy Chief, overseeing the newly formed Organized and Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The investigation is another effort by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program that was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the United States Attorney General’s drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises. The OCDETF Program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Quebec Man Charged with Offering to Sell More Than 500,000 Stolen Gift Card Account Numbers over the InternetRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury recently returned a six-count indictment charging Richard Verret, age 40, of Quebec, Canada, with unauthorized solicitation of access devices and trafficking counterfeit access devices, the result of a multi-year investigation into Verret’s online criminal activity.
The indictment was filed under seal in Baton Rouge on March 22, 2022. On April 7, 2022, Verret was arrested at the Orlando International Airport after arriving in the United States from Canada. On April 8, 2022, Verret made his initial appearance in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, where the court ordered him to remain in federal custody pending his appearance in the Middle District of Louisiana. On May 16, 2022, Verret made his first appearance in this district, where he remains in custody.
According to the indictment, Verret, also known as “Luxury187,” “Miami24k,” and other screen names, operated and controlled several websites, such as the “Lux Giftcards Shop” and “Miami’s Gift Card Shop,” through which he advertised the sale of gift cards for major restaurant chains, grocery stores, entertainment venues, and other retail business chains (collectively, the “businesses”). Many of the businesses whose gift cards were advertised on Verret’s websites had locations across Louisiana.
The indictment further alleges that Verret would obtain, by fraudulent methods and theft, large quantities of valid gift card account numbers. Because the account numbers could be loaded into mobile applications and scanned at store registers, used for online purchases, and/or re-programmed onto blank access devices, Verret and others could access the account balances and spend the funds without ever having actual, physical possession of the original, legitimate gift cards. Using various methods to conceal his identity and avoid detection, Verret would sell the account numbers over the internet, offering the numbers for sale at steep discounts. As the indictment alleges, Verret’s websites advertised that they offered gift cards to hundreds of different businesses and that the sites were adding more gift cards “every week.” As of late February 2022, one of the websites offered more than 550,000 gift cards to more than 500 different businesses. The total stored value of all of the fraudulently obtained accounts offered for sale was more than $22 million.
In connection with this case, the United States has seized two of the domain names used by Verret in furtherance of his criminal activity, “www.miami24k.com” and "www.miami.gift". Federal law enforcement officials recently served the domain registrars with federal seizure warrants directing the registrars to lock the domain names, and to display a banner notification that the domains have been temporarily seized, pending further proceedings.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, and the investigation has received substantial assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Quebec Police Department. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alan A. Stevens, who also serves as Senior Litigation Counsel, and Brad Casey.
*NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Baker Woman Charged in Federal Court with Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation and Presentation of False and Fraudulent Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that a federal grand jury has returned an eleven-count indictment charging Bridget Rogers White, age 47, of Baker, Louisiana, with aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns for herself and others.
The indictment alleges that White operated an income tax preparation business out of her Baker residence from at least January of 2015 through June of 2018. Through that business, White routinely prepared false and fraudulent tax returns for herself and others. On numerous occasions, from 2016 to 2018, White allegedly aided and assisted in the preparation of false returns that included fictitious businesses, business expenses, and education credits, among other false items.
This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caroline Gardner.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. will recognize the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
“This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”
U.S. Attorney Gathe stated, “Law enforcement officers sacrifice so much for our community to keep us safe from the criminal element. I want to offer my appreciation for their tireless work, and I ask everyone to recognize their contribution to a safe society. Please continue to support law enforcement throughout the year and thank them for their service.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021. Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19.
Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents. Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year. In 2021, unprovoked attacks[1] were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting. Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program.
The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
[1] An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program.
Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 110 Months in Federal Prison for Charges Related to Drug Trafficking and Possession of Contraband in PrisonRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Reuben Maurice Crawford, age 36, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 110 months in federal prison following his convictions for unlawful use of communications facilities in furtherance of drug trafficking activities and possession of contraband in prison. The Court further sentenced Crawford to serve one year of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, Crawford was involved with a drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of controlled substances in the Middle District of Louisiana. On June 7, 2017, Crawford and another member of the organization discussed collection of drug trafficking proceeds from other members of the organization. On June 19, 2017, Crawford called another member and warned him that he was being surveilled by federal agents. Crawford then instructed the member to meet him at a bar so that he could take him to the federal law enforcement office and show him the vehicles used to conduct surveillance.
In June 2021, on two separate occasions, while housed as an inmate at West Baton Rouge Parish Prison, Crawford possessed cellular telephones, which are prohibited objects in prison under federal law.
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. stated, “This sentence demonstrates that we will use all tools at our disposal to bring to justice those who deal drugs in our community. The combined federal, state, and local efforts that culminated in this conviction once again reflect our unified front against crime in this district. I appreciate the tremendous dedication and hard work by the agents and prosecutors who worked tirelessly on this important matter.”
U.S. Marshal Bill Brown stated, “When prisoners in our custody violate the law, we will seek to hold them accountable.”
This investigation is another effort by the OCDETF Program, which was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the United States Attorney General’s drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, money laundering organizations, and related criminal enterprises. The OCDETF Program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.
These matters were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Kleinpeter and Harley Ferguson.
Ponchatoula Man Sentenced in Federal Court for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Jaime Aaron Sousa, age 28, of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, to 120 months in federal prison following his conviction for attempted enticement of a minor. The Court further sentenced Sousa to serve a period of five years supervised release, which includes sex offender registration requirements, following his term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made during his plea, in January 2021, Sousa utilized a social media application to communicate with and sexually pursue an individual whom he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. Throughout his communications, Sousa sent sexually explicit messages and photographs to the purported minor, he pressured the purported minor to send him sexually explicit photographs, and he coerced the purported minor to meet him to engage in sexual activity. Sousa then traveled to a location in Baton Rouge with the intent to engage in sexual activity with the purported minor, where he was ultimately arrested by federal and state law enforcement officials.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations, Louisiana State Police, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jamie A. Flowers Jr., who also serves as Chief of the Criminal Division.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
Prairieville Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison for Distribution of HeroinRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Robert Brown, age 28, of Prairieville, Louisiana, to 60 months in federal prison following his conviction of distribution of heroin. The Court further sentenced Brown to three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to admissions made as a part of his guilty plea, on December 1, 2017, Brown made arrangements with a confidential informant to sell the informant one-half of an ounce of heroin for $1,200 at a gas station in Livonia, Louisiana. The informant subsequently met with Brown at the gas station where he sold the heroin to the informant for $1,200 as planned.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William K. Morris.
Greensburg Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Neiyondra Rogers, age 38, of Greensburg, Louisiana, to 33 months in federal prison following her conviction for theft of government funds. The Court further sentenced Rogers to serve three years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment and ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $179,252.85 to the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program; $20,832 to the Small Business Administration (SBA); and $16,961 to the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
According to admissions made as part of her guilty plea, beginning in January 2016, Rogers participated in the Child and Adult Care Food Program as a provider. Under the program, she was required to provide children in her care with nutritious meals. To be reimbursed for her services, she would have to submit reimbursement claims to her sponsor, Feliciana Day Care Home Agency.
Although Rogers routinely submitted claims for reimbursement, claiming that she had provided meals to children in her care, in fact, she never watched any children while participating in the program, nor did she provide the meals reflected in her claims. Based on the fraudulent claims she submitted, the defendant was reimbursed at least $31,224.27 in federal funds from the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
In addition to submitting fraudulent reimbursement claims, Rogers discussed the program and work with Feliciana Day Care Home Agency with other providers. For these individuals, Rogers assisted the individuals in signing up for the program, and she submitted false reimbursement claims on their behalf or aided them in submitting false reimbursement claims, resulting in the sponsor, Feliciana Day Care Home Agency, issuing the individuals reimbursement checks. On numerous occasions, Rogers would collect the reimbursement checks issued to the individuals with whom she discussed the program and would endorse their checks to herself, sometimes without their knowledge or consent. In total, Rogers endorsed and cashed checks in the names of other providers for a total of $91,635.34. The money she stole belonged to the United States Department of Agriculture's Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Lastly, beginning in April 2020, Rogers submitted fraudulent claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) and Disaster Unemployment Assistance (“DUA”) to the Louisiana Workforce Commission (“LWC”). As a result of these fraudulent claims, she received at least $16,951.00 in unemployment benefits to which she was not entitled. In March 2021, Rogers also applied for and received a loan under the Small Business Administration’s (“SBA’s”) Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). In that application, Rogers falsely represented that she was the owner of a sole proprietorship engaged in the catering business when in fact, no such business existed. As a result, the defendant received an additional $20,832.00 in government funds to which she was not entitled.
U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. stated, “This defendant committed fraud in government programs intended for underprivileged children and those adversely affected by Covid-19. Prosecuting this type of fraud is a high priority of this office, and I want to thank our prosecutors and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in bringing this defendant to justice.”
"Neiyondra Rogers used funds designated for the USDA Summer Foods Service Program, which provides nutritional meals for children in low-income families, for her own personal expenses. Defrauding taxpayers and taking food out of the mouths of children who can’t provide for themselves is reprehensible,” said Douglas A. Williams, Jr., FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge. “I would like to thank our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office Middle District of Louisiana and Louisiana Office of Inspector General for their efforts in helping the FBI disrupt this type of fraud.”
Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street commented, “This is just the latest in a series of successful criminal cases where summer nutrition funds were stolen with no regard for the children they were intended to benefit. Neiyondra Rogers shamelessly broke the law out of pure personal greed, and today’s sentencing brings this sad episode to a just conclusion. We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to root out this corruption wherever it may be found.” Street added, “I want to thank United States Attorney Ron Gathe and his staff for their usual outstanding work, as well as our partners at the FBI.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Louisiana Office of Inspector General and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Craig.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 100 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Tylan Tilford, age 29, of Gonzales, Louisiana, to 100 months in federal prison following his conviction of possessing firearms by a convicted felon. The Court further sentenced Tilford to three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered that the firearms involved be forfeited.
According to admissions made as a part of his guilty plea, on March 16, 2020, Louisiana State Police narcotics detectives executed a search warrant at Tilford’s residence in Gonzales, Louisiana. While searching the bedroom, detectives located a firearm under a pillow on Tilford’s bed, along with five firearms located in the bedroom and bathroom used by Tilford’s mother. Tilford advised that all the firearms belonged to him and that he had placed them in his mother’s room.
Prior to possessing the firearms, Tilford was convicted in Ascension Parish in March 2012 of simple burglary and in November 2015 of aggravated assault with a firearm.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Louisiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eli J. Abad.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana Commemorates Sexual Assault Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
Every April, the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of join survivors, advocates, and communities nationwide in observing Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Sexual violence is far too prevalent, and it is important to not only to raise awareness of the myriad forms of sexual violence, but to engage in meaningful prevention efforts, take action to hold offenders accountable, and care for survivors in a trauma-informed manner. U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. joins the Department of Justice and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) in applauding the recent passage of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022), which treats sexual assault as the serious violation it is and creates new programs and initiatives that provide survivors of sexual violence with increased access to services and justice. One such program is the Violence Against Women Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) program, which cross-designates tribal prosecutors as SAUSAs to support tribes and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in investigating and prosecuting cases involving sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, stalking, and certain sex trafficking offenses. VAWA 2022 also expands outreach to survivors in underserved communities, including by improving access to sexual assault medical forensic examinations for survivors in rural areas, providing community-specific services for LGBT survivors, and restoring tribes’ jurisdiction to prosecute non-Indian perpetrators of sexual violence and sex trafficking, among certain other offenses committed on tribal lands.
“During Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, and every month, OVW-funded programs across the nation provide essential services to survivors of sexual assault, responding to their needs, helping them heal, and supporting them as they pursue the justice they seek,” said OVW Principal Deputy Director Allison Randall. “The impact of sexual violence is felt by the entire community and can devastate survivors’ lives, which is why it is critical that VAWA 2022 strengthens not just services and justice interventions but also prevention.”
OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.
If you or someone you know is experiencing or has experienced sexual violence, you are not alone and there are many services available to help, including the Sexual Assault Hotline, 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), and the StrongHearts Native Helpline, 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483). In addition, you can find a local resources page on OVW’s website, which lists state sexual assault coalitions that can direct you to local resources and services, as well as opportunities to get involved.
Baton Rouge Man Charged with Wire Fraud, Extortion in Interstate Communications, Attempted Escape, and Assault on an OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that a federal grand jury recently returned a fifteen-count indictment charging Monty Matthews, age 52, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with wire fraud, extortion in interstate communications, attempted escape, and assault on an officer.
According to the indictment, between the summer of 2017 and March 2022, Matthews devised a fraud scheme targeting elderly victims through false representations about the existence of companies and investment opportunities, resulting in a loss of more than $1M. During the period of the scheme, Matthews would send false and, at times, threatening messages via cellular phone to the victims to induce them to make and continue to make investments in the form of cash that could only be delivered to him. Matthews, however, never invested any of the cash on behalf of the victims, nor returned any type of refund, profit, dividend, interest, or any other thing of value to them. After his arrest on March 23, 2022, Matthews attempted to escape from the custody of FBI agents and, in the process of attempting to escape, assaulted two FBI special agents.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, with assistance by Acadian Ambulance personnel, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Pugliese.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Denham Springs Woman Charged with Making and Subscribing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that a federal grand jury has returned a three-count indictment charging Lakeisha Grayer, age 40, of Denham Springs, Louisiana, with making and subscribing false tax returns.
The indictment alleges that, on multiple occasions from 2016 to 2018, Grayer made and filed false tax returns for her business by knowingly underreporting the business’s gross receipts for tax years 2015, 2016, and 2017.
This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Harley Ferguson.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
New York Man Pleads Guilty for His Role in a Computer Fraud Scheme that Targeted the ElderlyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced today that Mohammad Alam, age 50, of New York, pled guilty to a Bill of Information charging him with misprision of a felony before U.S. District Court Judge John W. deGravelles.
According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, in December of 2016, Alam became involved in a computer technical support fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims throughout the United States including the Middle District of Louisiana. The scheme involved international participants, targeted over 30 victims, and took in approximately $340,000 in fraudulent proceeds.
Members of the scheme tricked victims into thinking their computers needed technical support, then offered to fix their computers for a fee. After the victims paid, a member of scheme would contact the victims seeking access to their bank accounts, claiming that the victims were entitled to a discount. With that information, a member of the scheme would manipulate the victims’ account balances to where the victims thought that they owed money to the computer company. The victims would then send money to accounts controlled by Alam and others.
Between December of 2016 and March of 2018, Alam utilized multiple bank accounts to receive the victims’ funds. He operated these accounts at the direction of an overseas associate, who instructed him how to distribute the funds, which he then sent to foreign and domestic accounts as directed.
Individuals like Alam assist fraudsters by receiving money from victims of fraud and forwarding it to the fraud organizers, many of whom are located abroad. Some of these so-called money mules know they are assisting fraudsters, but others are unaware of the illegal scheme. Without money mules, many foreign fraudsters find it difficult to profit off U.S. victims. To find public education materials, as well as information about how fraudsters use and recruit money mules, please visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch/money-mule-initiative.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M.P. Thornhill, who also serves as the Elder Justice Coordinator for the Middle District of Louisiana.
The Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative aims to combat elder financial exploitation by expanding efforts to investigate and prosecute financial scams that target seniors; educate older adults on how to identify scams and avoid becoming victims of financial fraud; and promote greater coordination with law enforcement partners. For more information, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).
Baton Rouge Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Jason L. Istre, age 45, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty before U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick to receipt of child pornography. As a result of his conviction, Istre faces a significant term of imprisonment, a fine, and a period of supervised release, which includes sex offender registration requirements.
According to admissions made during his plea, on or about October 1, 2021, Istre knowingly received files of child pornography via the internet. Additionally, he used sophisticated computer programs to download and store images and videos of child pornography. Istre sought videos and images of minors, knowing they were under 18 years of age, and sought them with the intent to receive child pornography. Istre also possessed 1,700 total videos and approximately 45 images of child pornography, which were accessible through his laptop.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
Baton Rouge Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Federal Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Forrest J. Hardy, age 33, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty before U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick to interference with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. As a result of his plea, Hardy faces up to 20 years imprisonment for the robbery conviction, 10 years imprisonment for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon conviction, and a mandatory minimum consecutive term of imprisonment of not less than seven years and up to life for the brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence conviction.
According to admissions made during his plea, on or about January 7, 2020, at approximately 6:41 p.m., Hardy, while wearing a mask, entered the Boost Mobile Store, located at 8180 Scenic Hwy, Baton Rouge, which is across the street from Baton Rouge Police Department’s Fourth Precinct police station, and pointed a firearm at an employee. After Hardy demanded money kept in the cash registers, the employee complied with Hardy’s demands, who removed and pocketed the cash. Hardy then fled from the store and ran to a 1999 Lexus SUV.
Following investigative leads, the following day, detectives identified the vehicle driven by Hardy and developed him as a suspect of this robbery. Video cameras captured images of Hardy’s car enabling detectives to identify Hardy’s vehicle as a gold-colored Lexus, bearing distinct coloring on the right front quarter panel.
On January 8, 2020, at approximately 7:20 p.m., Hardy, while wearing a green jacket and a black mask over his face, entered a Metro PCS cellular phone store, located at 1966 North Foster Dr., Baton Rouge. Hardy then pointed a loaded Glock, model 22, .40 caliber pistol, with an extended magazine and a weapon-mounted flashlight at an employee and demanded cash from the register. He removed the cash from the register and pocked it. While aiming his firearm at the employee, Hardy demanded the cash that the business kept in its safe in the storage room. Concerned for his safety, the victim led the robber to the storage room. From his vantage point, the victim observed Hardy rummaging through the safe. Following the robbery, Hardy fled the premises in same vehicle, the 1999 Lexus SUV, he used the night before. Notably, the day before the robbery the safe contained an Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max and after the robbery the Apple iPhone Pro Max was no longer in the safe.
Later, on the evening of January 8, 2020, at approximately 8:25 p.m., law enforcement officers with the Baton Rouge Police Department stopped Hardy in the 1999 Lexus SUV, which bore the distinct coloring on one of its sides. Law enforcement officers observed, in plain view, a black handgun with an extended magazine, and a black mask on the front passenger seat. Police thereafter arrested Hardy.
A day or so later, during the execution of a search warrant on the 1999 Lexus SUV, law enforcement personnel found an assault style firearm, a .40 caliber Glock semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine, stolen cash, a ski mask, the gloves used by Hardy during the robberies, and ammunition.
Previously, Hardy had been convicted of armed robbery in East Baton Rouge Parish in 2007 and convicted of second-degree battery and false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon in Lafayette Parish in 2019.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Baton Rouge Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert W. Piedrahita and Jeremy S. Johnson.
U.S. Attorney Gathe stated, “I would like to publicly thank our Assistant United States Attorneys and our partners, the Baton Rouge Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the time and effort to prepare this matter for trial. Their efforts led to the government removing a violent offender and several guns off the street.”