Western District of Louisiana
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to $3.8 Million Durable Medical Equipment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Louisiana man pleaded guilty today in connection with a five-year scheme to submit millions of dollars in fraudulent claims to Medicare for expensive and medically unnecessary medical equipment.
According to court documents, Michael L. Riggins, 62, of West Monroe, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud for his role in a durable medical equipment (DME) scheme. Riggins was the owner of Bluewater Healthcare (Bluewater), a DME supply company in West Monroe. From 2018 to 2023, Riggins paid for doctors’ orders for medically unnecessary DME and tricked doctors into signing DME orders and certificates of medical necessity in order to bill for it. Despite receiving hundreds of complaints regarding the fraudulent orders, Riggins submitted over $3.8 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for supplying medically unnecessary DME and was reimbursed over $1.8 million.
Riggins is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook for the Western District of Louisiana; and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
Trial Attorneys Samantha Usher and Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin McCoy for the Western District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case. HHS-OIG is investigating the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
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Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to $3.8 Million Durable Medical Equipment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A Louisiana man pleaded guilty today in connection with a five-year scheme to submit millions of dollars in fraudulent claims to Medicare for expensive and medically unnecessary medical equipment.
According to court documents, Michael L. Riggins, 62, of West Monroe, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud for his role in a durable medical equipment (DME) scheme. Riggins was the owner of Bluewater Healthcare (Bluewater), a DME supply company in West Monroe. From 2018 to 2023, Riggins paid for doctors’ orders for medically unnecessary DME and tricked doctors into signing DME orders and certificates of medical necessity in order to bill for it. Despite receiving hundreds of complaints regarding the fraudulent orders, Riggins submitted over $3.8 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for supplying the DME and was reimbursed over $1.8 million.
Riggins is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 2 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook for the Western District of Louisiana; and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement.
HHS-OIG is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Samantha Usher and Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin McCoy for the Western District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Lafayette Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Jaylen Mouton, 24, of Lafayette, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays to 240 months in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for production of child pornography.
According to information presented in court, in the spring of 2024, Mouton met a minor female on Instagram and began having sexual encounters with her and recording those sexual encounters. At the time, the minor female was 14 years old.
Mouton was indicted in October 2024 and pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography on February 21, 2025.
The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Louisiana Bureau of Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren L. Gardner.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678.
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Local Rapper Sentenced for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Keynon Frazier, a/k/a “Green Eyez,” 29, of Shreveport, has been sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 78 months followed by 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $25,000 fine.
Frazier a/k/a “Green Eyez” was found guilty by a jury on January 15, 2025, for Felon in Possession of Firearm. On April 15, 2024, officers with the Shreveport Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle being driven by Frazier in the downtown Shreveport area, which ended with his vehicle crashing into a telephone pole and another vehicle. Officers approached the crashed vehicle and found Frazier, who was the sole occupant and driver of the vehicle. Also, inside the vehicle on the front passenger floorboard, officers found two firearms, a Glock 17 firearm, and a Glock 45 firearm, along with an expended shell casing stuck within the chamber of the Glock 45. In addition, there was a bullet-size hole found in the front driver’s side windshield of the vehicle.
Officers determined that Frazier had prior felony convictions for aggravated battery and second degree robbery, and he was arrested at the scene and taken into custody. As a convicted felon, Frazier was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Aaron Crawford and Cheyenne Wilson.
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Former President of Local Oilfield Consulting Service Business Sentenced in Federal Court for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Brian T. Owen, 52, of Caddo Parish, Louisiana, has been sentenced for money laundering. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Owen to 30 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, $100,000 fine, and ordered him to pay $1,157,154.39 in restitution.
Owen pleaded guilty in October 2024 to a Bill of Information charging him with one count of money laundering in connection with his unlawful activities as president of an oilfield consulting service business headquartered in Bossier City. According to information introduced in court, in June 2020, the company filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana.
In January 2021, as part of the company’s bankruptcy plan of reorganization, a Distribution Trust was established to pay back creditors, and Owen executed a Distribution Trust Agreement in his role as president of the company. According to this plan, if Owen received any additional compensation from the company, he was required to pay 30% of that directly to the Distribution Trust.
In 2021, the company began applying for Employee Retention Credits (“ERCs”), which are a refundable tax credit for certain eligible businesses and tax-exempt organizations that had employees and were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Owen then devised a scheme to defraud the Distribution Trust by intercepting the physical U.S. Department of Treasury Checks before they were deposited into the company’s working accounts. Unbeknownst to other senior leadership at the company, Owen had opened a bank account in the name of the company while it was still in bankruptcy. As part of the scheme, he deposited a total of $3.8 million in ERC funds for himself as additional compensation. Owen did not pay the Distribution Trust the 30% as he had agreed, but instead used the money for his own personal expenses, including to pay off gambling debts.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Louisiana State Police and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth D. Reeg.
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Five Illegal Hondurans Charged in Separate Cases Involving Illegal Re-entry into the United States After DeportationRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Five men found to be in the United States illegally have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Lafayette in five separate cases, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. All of the defendants are currently in federal custody.
Enrique Hernandez-Ortiz, 44, a citizen of Honduras, was charged with one count of re-entry of a removed alien. The indictment alleges that Hernandez-Ortiz was found in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on December 3, 2024, and the indictment alleges his prior removal was subsequent to a conviction for commission of an aggravated felony. The indictment also alleges that Hernandez-Ortiz never obtained the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.
Enrique Hernandez-Ortiz has been removed from the United States on three prior occasion as follows:
- On or about June 30, 2008, at or near Atlanta, Georgia
- (After being convicted of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile on March 20, 2008)
- On or about May 18, 2012, at or near New Orleans, Louisiana
- (After being convicted on July 17, 2011, of Illegal Re-entry After Aggravated Felon Conviction)
- On or about September 2024, at or near Alexandria, Louisiana
- (After being convicted on June 8, 2023, for illegal re-entry after removal subsequent felony conviction as well as failure to register and update registration as a sex offender)
If convicted Hernandez-Ortiz faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,00.00 and deportation.
This case is being investigated by Customs Border and Patrol and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jamilla Bynog.
The second indictment charges Martin Perez-Amaya, 30, a citizen of Honduras re-entry of a removed alien. The indictment alleges that on April 23, 2025, Perez-Amaya was found in Lake Charles, Louisiana, after having been removed from the United States on three prior occasions. The indictment also alleges that Perez-Amaya never obtained the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States. His prior removals are as follows:
- On or about January 30, 2015, at or near Brownsville, Texas
- On or about May 21, 2015, at or near Brownsville, Texas
- On or about September 2, 2015, at or near Brownsville, Texas
Perez-Amaya came to the attention of immigration officials after he was arrested by the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office for Domestic Abuse Child Endangerment on April 4, 2025. He was subsequently arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol in Lake Charles, Louisiana on April 23, 2025 and charged by complaint with illegal reentry.
If convicted, Perez-Amaya faces up to 2 years in prison and deportation.
This case was investigated by Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Border Patrol and prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Myers Namie.
The third indictment charges William Noel Delcid-Guzman, 22, a citizen of Honduras with possession of a fraudulent immigrant visa or about February 26, 2025.
If convicted, Delcid-Guzman faces up to 10 years in prison and deportation.
This case was investigated by Customs and Border Patrol and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jamilla Bynog.
The fourth indictment charges Yunior Nahin Nazar-Garcia, 29, a citizen of Honduras with possession of a fraudulent immigrant visa on or about February 14, 2025. The defendant has a criminal history of domestic abuse battery and served a six-month sentence in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.
If convicted, Nazar-Garcia faces up to 10 years in prison and deportation.
This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jamilla Bynog.
The fifth indictment charges Humberto Valladares-Cruz, 37, a citizen of Honduras, with one count of re-entry of a removed alien. The indictment alleges that on March 26, 2025, Valladares-Cruz was found in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, after having been removed from the United States on five prior occasions. The indictment also alleges that Valladares-Cruz never obtained the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States. Valladares-Cruz’s five prior removals are as follows:
- On or about October 14, 2016, at or near Oakdale, Louisiana
- On or about April 20, 2018, at or near Brownsville, Texas
- On or about October 14, 2018, at or near Alexandria, Louisiana
- On or about September 27, 2019, at or near Brownsville, Texas
- On or about March 3, 2021, at or near Laredo, Texas
Valladares-Cruz has a criminal history with convictions for DWI, possession of drug paraphernalia and simple burglary.
If convicted, Valladares-Cruz faces up to 10 years in prison and deportation.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Casey Stelly.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Former Tutor from New York Sentenced to 65 Years in Prison for Enticement of Minors to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Stephen Andrew Cipkin, 38, a former tutor from Suffolk County in New York, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 65 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for two counts of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Cipkin was charged in a Bill of Information and Indictment with enticement of minors to engage in sexual activity and pleaded guilty to the charge on August 13, 2024.
At the guilty plea hearing, Cipkin admitted that from January 2022, through April 23, 2022, he used a smart phone and computer to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor female under the age of 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. Cipkin, posing as an adolescent female seeking a friendship, used an online catfish account to contact the minor victim. He later admitted to being a male and began an online relationship with the minor victim after gaining her trust. During this relationship, Cipkin asked the minor victim to send sexually explicit photographs of herself to him and also asked her to meet up with him for sexual intercourse. After receiving the photographs and videos, he used them as blackmail to extort and threaten the minor victim.
From April 16, 2022, through April 23, 2022, Cipkin traveled from the State of New York to Natchitoches, Louisiana, to meet with the minor victim. Cipkin picked up the minor victim from her home and brought her to a hotel in the Western District of Louisiana where they engaged in sexual intercourse.
Cipkin also admitted that between January 1, 2021, and continuing through January 1, 2022, in the Northern District of Tennessee, he used his smart phone and computer to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce another minor female under the age of 18 years old to engage in illegal sexual activity. Cipkin reached out to the minor female victim using an online account that he had created and began an online relationship with the minor female victim, asking her to send sexually explicit photographs to him and to meet with him for sexual intercourse.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Casey N. Stelly in the Western District of Louisiana.
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Former Secretary of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Indicted by Federal Grand JuryRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Jack Montoucet, former Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), has been indicted on federal charges. A federal grand jury in Lafayette has returned an indictment charging Montoucet with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The indictment alleges that LDWF was an agency of the State of Louisiana that received benefits under federal programs involving grants, contracts, and other forms of assistance. While Secretary of the LDWF, Montoucet was the chief executive and empowered to enter contracts on LDWF’s behalf. Dusty J. Guidry was a Commissioner on the LDWF Commission which was charged with the control and supervision of the wildlife of the State of Louisiana and operated as a policy-making and budgetary control board. It is alleged that Guidry was placed on the Commission by and would take actions as directed by Montoucet. Leonard C. Franques, IV was a resident of the State of Louisiana and owned DGL1, LLC, a business created to provide online educational courses to be used by LDWF and was registered with the State of Louisiana in May 2020; Franques also owned LWF, LLC, (LWF) a Louisiana company registered with the State of Louisiana in June 2020.
It is alleged in the indictment that from approximately May 2020 until June 2022, Montoucet knowingly and unlawfully conspired with Guidry and Franques, and others known and unknown to the grand jury, to accept and agree to accept kickbacks from Franques in return for being influenced in connection with awarding a state contract to DGL1.
The indictment further alleges that Montoucet and Guidry used their official positions at LDWF to award a state contract to DGL1 and under the contract, DGL1 would provide online hunters’ education and boaters’ education courses and the education courses to resolve LDWF citations. It is alleged that DGL1 would keep a portion of the revenue generated from providing those services and in exchange, Franques agreed to provide, and Montoucet and Guidry agreed to accept, kickbacks and other things of value. It is alleged that as part of their conspiracy, Franques attempted to conceal the true source and nature of payments to Montoucet and Guidry.
According to the indictment, from on or about November 10, 2021, until June 10, 2022, LDWF received $454,174.14 from the LWF contract signed by Montoucet, of which $122,507.96 was held as a kickback for Montoucet, to be paid after he completed his term as LDWF Secretary. The indictment alleges that Montoucet, Guidry, and Franques agreed that after Montoucet’s retirement from LDWF, they would hire Montoucet and pay his kickbacks as a purported “signing bonus,” in order to conceal the true nature of these funds.
If convicted, Montoucet faces a sentence of not more than 5 years in prison on the conspiracy count, and up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud and money laundering counts, and a fine of up to $1,000,000.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Myers P. Namie, Lauren L. Gardner, and LaDonte A. Murphy, along with Trial Attorneys Trevor Wilmot and Steven Loew of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Three Illegal Aliens Charged in Separate Cases Involving Illegal Re-Entry into the United States and Illegal Possession of Narcotics and FirearmsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Three men found to be in the Western District of Louisiana illegally have been indicted by a federal grand jury in three separate cases, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.
Ariel Mauricio Zelaya-Pineda a/k/a Carlos Antonio Pineda Ramos, 39, a citizen of Honduras, was charged in a complaint on April 30, 2025, with one count of re-entry of a removed alien, was arrested, and is currently in federal custody. The indictment returned by the grand jury alleges that Zelaya-Pineda was found in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, after having been removed from the United States on six prior occasions. The indictment alleges that Zelaya-Pineda never obtained the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States. His prior removals are as follows:
- On or about April 27, 2009, at or near Columbus, Georgia;
- On or about November 10, 2010, at or near San Antonio, Texas;
- On or about May 27, 2013, at or near Dallas, Texas;
- On or about November 19, 2018, at or near Houston, Texas;
- On or about February 17, 2020, at or near Houston, Texas; and
- On or about July 29, 2024, at or near Alexandria, Louisiana.
If convicted, Zelaya-Pineda faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Bossier City Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robin McCoy.
The second immigration indictment charges Homero Arroyo-Ayala, 47, a citizen of Mexico, with one count each of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, re-entry of a removed alien, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien. The indictment alleges that on November 27, 2024, Arroyo-Ayala did possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and possessed a 9mm “ghost gun” in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a 9mm “ghost gun” and ammunition.
It is alleged in the indictment that Arroyo-Ayala was found in Bossier Parish, Louisiana after having been denied admission to the United States and removed on July 16, 2003, at or near San Ysidro, California, and had never obtained the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States. A sentencing notice included in the indictment alleges that Arroyo-Ayala was convicted in the Supreme Court of California, County of Los Angeles, of possession for sale of a controlled substance, an aggravated felony, and was subsequently removed from the United States. He is subject to increased punishment as to the charge of re-entry of a removed illegal alien.
If convicted, Arroyo-Ayala faces a total sentence of a minimum of 5 years up to life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Louisiana State Police, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Gaskins.
The third immigration indictment charges Erik Alexis Valladares-Corea a/k/a Eric A. Valladares, 23, a citizen of Honduras, with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien and one count of re-entry of a removed alien. Valladares was charged in a complaint on May 8, 2025, with one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien and one count of illegal re-entry of a removed alien, was arrested, and is currently in federal custody. The indictment returned by the grand jury alleges that Valladares illegally possessed a Beretta Model 950B .22 caliber pistol and ammunition. It is further alleged that Valladares was found to be in the United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported and removed therefrom on or about May 29, 2020, at or near Alexandria, Louisiana. Valladares did not obtain the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.
If convicted, Valladares faces up to 15 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Louisiana State Police, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Gaskins.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Operation Restore Justice Initiative Results in Indictment Charging Man with Attempting to Cause Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that as a result of Operation Restore Justice, a nationwide initiative to identify, track, and arrest child predators which was announced last week, a Rapides Parish man has been indicted. The federal grand jury in Shreveport has returned an indictment charging Keith William Noce, 45, with use of a facility to attempt to cause a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.
The indictment alleges that between April 29, 2025, and May 1, 2025, in the Western District of Louisiana, Noce used a facility and means of interstate commerce to knowingly attempt to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor under the age of 18 years old to engage in sexual activity.
Noce, along with two other subjects in Louisiana, were charged last week following a joint, undercover operation by the FBI, Alexandria Police Department and Louisiana State Police. A fourth subject was indicted in the Eastern District of Louisiana on child pornography charges.
If convicted, Noce faces a sentence of up to 10 years to life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Alexandria Police Department, and Louisiana State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Earl M. Campbell.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment Charging Two Men Involved in Robberies at Stores in ShreveportRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging two men for their involvement in the robbery of two stores in Shreveport.
Kevin Terrell Lewis a/k/a “Kelvin Lewis,” 38, of Arlington, Texas, and his brother, Larry Dewayne Lewis, 44, of Shreveport, have been charged with two counts of robbery and one count of conspiracy to using, carrying, brandishing and discharging firearms during and in relation to a crime of violence. Kelvin Lewis was also charged with two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The indictment alleges that on or about December 23, 2024, Kelvin Lewis and Larry Lewis, each aided and abetted by the other, committed robbery of personal property consisting of approximately $500 in United States currency from the victim owner/manager of the Pull-Up Liquor located at 5619 Hearne Avenue in Shreveport, as he was closing the store and walking to his car in the parking lot.
The indictment further alleges that on or about January 22, 2025, Kelvin Lewis and Larry Lewis, each aided and abetted by the other, committed robbery of personal property consisting of prescription drugs and a work van that was in the care, custody and control of victim B.J. as he was making a delivery from the Hackbarth Company to Walgreens located at 3124 Line Avenue in Shreveport.
Kelvin Lewis is charged in the indictment with using, carrying, and brandishing semi-automatic firearms during and in relation to these crimes of violence. The indictment also alleges that Kelvin Lewis and Larry Lewis conspired to use, carry, brandish and discharge a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, namely, robbery.
If convicted, each defendant faces a sentence of not less than 10 years or more than life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Larry Dewayne Lewis is currently in federal custody after being indicted on February 5, 2025, and charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
This investigation is ongoing and is being led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Shreveport Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Aaron Crawford and William C. Gaskins.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Nurse Practitioner from Opelousas Convicted of Medicare Fraud by Federal JuryRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – A federal jury in Lafayette has convicted Shanone Chatman-Ashley, 45, of Opelousas, a Nurse Practitioner, for her role in an over $2 million health care fraud scheme, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. United States District Judge David C. Joseph presided over the four-day trial.
Chatman-Ashley was indicted in December 2023 and charged with five counts of health care fraud related to her involvement in the scheme to defraud the Medicare Program. Testimony and court documents introduced at trial this week established that Chatman-Ashley was enrolled as a nurse practitioner provider with Medicare. She worked as an independent contractor for companies that purportedly provided telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries. Chatman-Ashley routinely ordered knee braces, suspension sleeves, and other types of durable medical equipment for beneficiaries who she had not examined and who had not been examined by another medical provider. For example, evidence produced at trial showed that Chatman-Ashley ordered a left knee brace for a beneficiary whose left leg had been amputated. The defendant concealed the scheme by signing documentation falsely certifying that she had consulted with the beneficiaries and personally conducted assessments of them.
From 2017 to 2019, Chatman-Ashley signed more than 1,000 orders for unnecessary medical equipment, causing over $2 million in fraudulent Medicare claims and over $1 million in reimbursements. In exchange for the orders, Chatman-Ashley received kickbacks and bribes from the companies she contracted with.
“This defendant not only defrauded the Medicare Program but went against everything the medical profession stands for which is a promise to provide ethical and responsible patient care,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “She took advantage of beneficiaries who were elderly and handicapped to order items for them that were not medically necessary. This office is committed to continuing to work with our federal partners to stop this type of fraud in the Western District of Louisiana.”
“Illegal kickback payments undermine and corrupt the medical decision-making process,” said Jason E. Meadows, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Both the payer and recipient of kickbacks benefit from these schemes, but it’s ultimately the taxpayers who foot the bill. HHS-OIG will continue collaborating with law enforcement and prosecutors to protect the Medicare trust fund that millions of Americans depend on.”
Chatman-Ashley faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison on each health care fraud count. Her sentencing hearing has been set for July 31, 2025, at 10 a.m.
The case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Danny Siefker of the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Department of Justice’s Fraud Section of the Criminal Division.
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Louisiana Nurse Practitioner Convicted of $2M Medicare FraudRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Louisiana nurse practitioner yesterday for her role in an over $2 million health care fraud scheme.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Shanone Chatman-Ashley, 45, of Opelousas, was a nurse practitioner and enrolled provider with Medicare. Chatman-Ashley worked as an independent contractor for companies that purportedly provided telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries. As part of the scheme, the defendant caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME). Chatman-Ashley routinely ordered knee braces, suspension sleeves, and other types of DME for patients who had not been examined by her or another medical provider. Chatman-Ashley concealed the scheme by signing documentation falsely certifying that she had consulted with the beneficiaries and personally conducted assessments of them. From 2017 to 2019, the defendant signed more than 1,000 orders for medically unnecessary DME, causing over $2 million in fraudulent Medicare claims and over $1 million in reimbursements. In exchange for the orders, Chatman-Ashley received kickbacks and bribes from the telehealth services companies.
“Today, a Louisiana jury convicted Shanone Chatman-Ashley of health care fraud for brazenly cheating Medicare out of its limited resources,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, the Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Dishonest medical practitioners put significant strain on our health care system and reduce the quality of patient care. The Department of Justice will not tolerate medical professionals who fraudulently enrich themselves at the expense of American taxpayers. I thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly on this case in the pursuit of justice.”
“This defendant not only defrauded the Medicare Program but went against everything the medical profession stands for, which is a promise to provide ethical and responsible patient care,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook for the Western District of Louisiana. “She took advantage of beneficiaries who were elderly and handicapped to order items for them that were not medically necessary. This office is committed to continuing to work with our federal partners to stop this type of fraud in the Western District of Louisiana.”
“Illegal kickback payments undermine and corrupt the medical decision-making process,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Both the payer and recipient of kickbacks benefit from these schemes, but it’s ultimately the taxpayers who foot the bill. HHS-OIG will continue collaborating with law enforcement and prosecutors to protect the Medicare trust fund that millions of Americans depend on.”
Chatman-Ashley was convicted of five counts of health care fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Siefker for the Western District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Ringleader of Bank Fraud Conspiracy Case Receives Lengthy Federal Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Destane Glass, 24, of Shreveport, has been sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 135 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Glass was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $539,578. In addition, Judge Hicks ordered that Glass’s sentence run consecutive to a 37-month federal prison sentence she is currently serving for Payment Protection Program fraud, making her sentence a total of 172 months (14 years, 4 months).
According to evidence presented in court, beginning on or about January 1, 2021, and continuing through October 31, 2022, Glass and her co-conspirators conspired to commit bank fraud from USAA Savings Bank (USAA Bank), Navy Federal Credit Union, and JP Morgan Chase Bank. Glass was the ringleader of this conspiracy and directed and recruited others to participate in the scheme to defraud the banks. Glass was indicted, along with 20 other defendants, in April 2024 in connection with this federal bank fraud scheme.
USAA Bank was a financial institution whose deposits were insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Teleperformance was a multinational company that provided a wide variety of business services including operating a call center in Shreveport, Louisiana. The call center provided customer service for USAA Bank. Teleperformance employees had access to USAA Bank customer information including, but not limited to, customer names, the age of customers, account balances, and account numbers. Glass was not an employee of Teleperformance but conspired with others who were to execute a scheme to defraud USAA Bank.
As part of the conspiracy, Glass worked with her co-defendants to improperly obtain account holder information so that the information could be used by Glass to create counterfeit USAA Bank checks. She instructed her co-defendants to target elderly bank customers whose bank accounts held high account balances as they would be less likely to regularly check their accounts. Glass created counterfeit checks on USAA Bank totaling $2,149,621 from accounts accessed by her co-defendants. After she created the checks, Glass used social media and other methods to recruit individuals in the Shreveport area with bank accounts to use their accounts to deposit the counterfeit checks.
Once the counterfeit checks were deposited into the accounts, Glass and others, worked to withdraw the funds at various locations to include area casinos. Glass and her co-conspirators would share the proceeds generated from negotiating the counterfeit checks.
ZarRajah Z. Watkins, 23, of Shreveport, who also participated in this scheme and was charged as a defendant in this case was sentenced today. Watkins pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced to 37 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $397,930.
All of the other defendants charged in this case have now pleaded guilty and received their sentences.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police and Shreveport Police Department and was prosecuted by Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.
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Robberies of Convenience Stores in Vinton Lead to Arrest and Conviction of Sunset ManRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Bracelon Armon Charles, 22, of Sunset, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. to 155 months (12 years, 11 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to information presented in court, on or about October 6, 2023, Charles and a juvenile used a 2018 Kia which had been stolen from a residence in Lafayette, to drive to Vinton, Louisiana. Charles and the juvenile entered Tiger Mart, a gas station and convenience store located in Vinton, and entered the store brandishing firearms and demanded money from the store clerk. The clerk complied and gave them money from the cash register in the amount of $400. Charles and the juvenile immediately left the Tiger Mart.
Just minutes later, Charles and the juvenile entered More 4 Less, another gas station and convenience store in Vinton. As in the previous store just minutes before, Charles and the juvenile brandished their firearms and demanded money from the store clerk as they pointed their firearms at the clerk. The clerk complied and gave all the money in the cash drawer over to Charles and the juvenile, which was $400.
Charles and the juvenile then traveled into Texas where law enforcement officers engaged them in a high speed chase back into Louisiana where they were subsequently apprehended. Charles was charged in a federal indictment and pleaded guilty to using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren L. Gardner.
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Lake Charles Man Sentenced on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Kenneth Blake LeBlanc, 33, of Lake Charles, was sentenced yesterday on child pornography charges, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced LeBlanc to 180 months (15 years) in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release.
LeBlanc was arrested in April 2024 after law enforcement officers with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office (“CPSO”) received a complaint about an individual, later determined to be LeBlanc, who had recorded a prepubescent minor female undressing in the bathroom. Detectives with CPSO and agents with Homeland Security Investigations began an investigation into the allegations and learned that in April 2024, LeBlanc hid a cell phone and used it as a recording device to capture a minor undressing in the bathroom of a known residence. The phone was positioned to capture someone getting in and out of the shower. The video LeBlanc created included images of the private areas of the minor, who was under the age of 11 years old at the time. Using the internet, LeBlanc transported this video from his Android phone to an iPhone, knowing that the video contained child pornography.
LeBlanc pleaded guilty to a Bill of Information charging him with one count of attempted transportation of child pornography.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren L. Gardner.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Child Sexual Abuse Material - To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678.
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Owner of Scott, LA Non-Profit Corporation and Two Daughters Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Wire FraudRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – A federal grand jury in Lafayette, Louisiana has returned an indictment charging a Lafayette man and his two daughters with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the Child and Adult Care Food Program (“the Program”), a federal program operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.
The indictment charges Brian Desormeaux, 64, and his two daughters, Amy Desormeaux Hernandez, 38, and Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux, 34, each with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Regional Nutrition Assistance, Inc. (“RNA”) was a Louisiana non-profit corporation located in Scott, Louisiana and was owned and operated by Brian Desormeaux and he served as its Executive Director. Amy Desoremaux Hernandez served as its Assistant Director and Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux served as its Senior Program Manager.
RNA was a “Sponsoring Organization” for the Program and was responsible for administering it in certain locations, including “Day Care Homes,” which are organized childcare programs for children enrolled in a private home. The Program authorizes assistance to states through grants-in-aid and other means to assist non-profit food service programs for children and adult participants in non-residential institutions that provide care. It is intended to provide aid to the participants and family or group day care homes to provide nutritious foods for the health and wellness of young children, older adults, and chronically impaired persons.
The indictment alleges that the defendants had access to KidKare/Minute Menu HX, the online portal used by Sponsoring Organizations to administer the Program. It is alleged that it was part of the conspiracy that defendant Amy Hernandez would access the online portal at the beginning of the month to change Day Care Home Providers to “inactive” status to avoid monitoring and oversight by the Louisiana Department of Education (“LDOE”). Then at the end of the month, she would change those “inactive” Day Care Home providers back to “active” status so that claims could be submitted to LDOE for reimbursement by USDA.
Allegations in the indictment state that all three defendants submitted or caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to LDOE for reimbursement from USDA, to include claims that children were being cared for and fed at Day Care Home providers when in fact, they were not. In fact, it is alleged that some of those Day Care Home providers were deceased at the time claims were made on their behalf.
The indictment also alleges that Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux submitted false and fraudulent state fire marshal inspection reports for Day Care Home providers so that they would be in compliance with LDOE’s requirements for inclusion in the Program, which was necessary for reimbursements. The indictment further alleges that these three defendants submitted false and fraudulent claims seeking reimbursement they were not entitled to, causing LDOE and USDA to pay at least $400,000 in fraudulent claims.
If convicted, each defendant faces not more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, on each count.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Louisiana State Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren L. Gardner.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Two Men Found Guilty by Federal Jury on Drug Trafficking Charges in Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation CaseRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Jaworski Batton, 41, and Cody Gibson, 40, both of Heflin, Louisiana, have been found guilty by a federal jury in Shreveport of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote presided over the trial.
According to information presented in court, Batton and Gibson were both involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Both defendants conspired with their co-defendant, Demetric Carey. Testimony at trial revealed that agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) began an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) investigation into suspected drug trafficking in the Webster Parish area. During their investigation, agents were able to obtain a court order to intercept communications on Carey’s cell phone. After receiving information through communications intercepted on Carey’s phone between he and Batton, agents conducted surveillance of Batton at a retail store in Bossier City as he was on his way to obtain the suspected narcotics. A Trooper with the Louisiana State Police conducted a traffic stop of Batton’s vehicle and found marijuana and methamphetamine in a backpack inside his vehicle.
Agents were also able to intercept communications between Gibson and Carey as they discussed meeting at a location in Minden to conduct a drug transaction. A deputy with the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted surveillance of that meeting between Gibson and Carey and obtained video evidence of them exchanging money for the methamphetamine. There were several other intercepted communications that occurred over a period of several months between these two defendants where Carey sold Gibson distribution amounts of methamphetamine.
Batton and Gibson each face a sentence of not less than 5 years or more than 40 years in prison, and a fine of up to $5,000,000, or both. Sentencing for Batton and Gibson has been set for July 15, 2025.
Ten other defendants were also charged in connection with this OCDETF case and have all pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Those defendants are: Demetric Carey, Derrick Carey, Antario Hawk, Eugene Henderson, Damien Rasco, Dana Ray, Holly Reynolds, Corey Russell, Lloyd Smith, and Norell Washington.
The case was investigated by the DEA, Louisiana State Police, and Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Aaron Crawford and William C. Gaskins.
The investigation and conviction of these defendants is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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.
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Jury Returns Guilty Verdict in Federal Firearms CaseRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – A federal jury that was seated in Monroe this week returned a guilty verdict last night against Maurice Mitchell, 42, of Monroe, for illegally possessing a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided over the trial.
According to evidence presented at trial, deputies with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a mini storage facility in West Monroe on January 8, 2023, to follow up on a complaint received about a possible burglary in progress at that location. Deputies arrived on the scene in less than a minute after receiving the call and upon their arrival, immediately located two individuals near the storage units. Mitchell was one of the individuals they encountered and when he saw deputies, he immediately fled the scene riding a bicycle. Deputies ordered Mitchell to stop and as he was riding away, drove his bicycle into a culvert area and fell over, but Mitchell got up and began running. After a short pursuit, deputies were able to take Mitchell into custody.
Deputies conducted a search of Mitchell and found a small bag tied to the front end of the bicycle which contained a loaded .38 caliber revolver with five rounds of ammunition in the cylinder. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) testified at trial that the firearm seized from Mitchell was test fired and found to be a working firearm which had traveled in interstate commerce. Mitchell was charged in an indictment on August 7, 2024, with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Mitchell has a lengthy criminal history including prior felony convictions for attempting to disarm a peace officer (2017), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of oxycodone, cocaine and marijuana and resisting an office by flight on foot (2015), and possession of cocaine (2008).
After deliberating for nearly five hours, the jury returned the guilty verdict against Mitchell for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He now faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Sentencing has been set for July 31, 2025.
The case was investigated by the ATF and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Catherine Semmes and Assistant United States Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy.
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Lake Charles Man Sentenced to over 16 Years in Federal Prison on Distribution of Fentanyl CaseRead the Press Release
Lake Charles, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that Kendall Hicks, 35, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr., to 175 months on distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl followed by five years of supervised release. He was also sentenced to 24 months on a supervised release violation to run consecutively for a total of 199 months or approximately 16 years in prison.
On May 30, 2023, members of the Calcasieu Combined Anti-Drug Task Force (C.A.T. Team) executed a search warrant for Hicks' residence. During the search, officers located over $10,000 in U.S. currency, approximately 495.71 grams of fentanyl, marijuana, and digital scales. Hicks pled guilty on January 7, 2025.
“The United States Attorney’s Office salutes the hard work and dedication of our law enforcement partners in Calcasieu Parish and their commitment to make our communities safe. Simply put, fentanyl kills and its illegal distribution must come to an end.” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “This is a significant sentence and it sends a clear message that that this conduct will not be tolerated.”
This case was investigated by United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Calcasieu Combined Anti-Drug Task Force (C.A.T. Team) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog.
The Combined Anti-Drug Team (C.A.T.) Narcotics Task Force is a joint effort between the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lake Charles Police Department, Westlake Police Department, DeQuincy Police Department, Vinton Police Department, Iowa Police Department, the United States Marshal’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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Mexican National Previously Deported Six Times Convicted of Illegal Possession of a Firearm After Confrontation in Downtown ShreveportRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a federal jury in Shreveport returned a guilty verdict yesterday against Jose Ismael Ramirez-Gonzalez, 37, of Mexico for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien and illegal re-entry into the United States after being removed. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote presided over the trial. It took less than an hour for the jury to find Ramirez-Gonzalez guilty of the crimes.
According to evidence presented at trial, on August 4, 2024, Shreveport police officers responded to a 911 call in the 400 block of Commerce Street in downtown Shreveport regarding an armed, Hispanic male. The Hispanic male was determined to be Ramirez-Gonzalez, who was intoxicated and earlier had pointed a loaded Ruger pistol at a woman over an apparent confrontation about parking. Officers arrested Ramirez-Gonzalez for driving under the influence of alcohol and having no driver’s license.
Evidence at trial also established that Ramirez-Gonzalez is a citizen of Mexico and was illegally present in the United States after being deported on six prior occasions between 2008 and 2018.
“The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to make our communities safe for all of our citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “This conviction should send a clear message that anyone in the United States illegally who chooses to violate our laws will be prosecuted to the maximum extent.”
Ramirez-Gonzalez faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the firearms conviction. He also faces up to two years in prison for illegally re-entering the United States.
“Getting guns out of the hands of criminals is an essential element of the fight against violent crime and securing our neighborhoods,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message to the community that illegal aliens possessing firearms will be held accountable as we work to keep our neighborhoods safe as a top priority to ensure public safety for ATF.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Enforcement & Removal Operations), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Shreveport Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cheyenne Y. Wilson and Allison L. Duncan.
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Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment Charging 14 Defendants with Drug Conspiracy, Racketeering, and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook, along with DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Keith Bakewell, Lincoln Parish Sheriff J. Stephen Williams, Louisiana State Police Captain Eric Cuenca, and Ruston Police Department Chief Eric Watson, have joined together in a press conference today to announce the indictment of 14 defendants on drug and firearms charges related to a drug trafficking conspiracy in the Ruston, Louisiana area.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment charging the following individuals with drug conspiracy, racketeering, and firearms charges. The defendants named in the indictment and the charges they face are as follows:
Defendant Name
Charges
Cornelius Boston, a/k/a “C-Rock”
Age 44 of Ruston, LA
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking
- Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon
Shedrick Green, III a/k/a “Shed”
Age 40 of Ruston, LA
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Ferrano Barnes, a/k/a “Quan”
Age 54 of Lodi, CA
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Marcus Gray
Age 41 of Salina, KS
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Landon Askins
Age 42 of Ruston, LA
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Brodrick Graham, a/k/a “Broderick Graham”
Age 31 of Ruston, LA
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Kimoni McMurray, a/k/a “KiMoney”
Age 46 of Ruston, LA
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Jakevdrick Carter, a/k/a “OB”
Age 34 of Ruston, LA
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Ladavid Hunter
Age 37 of Jonesboro, LA
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Jason Teddy Potts
Age 46 of Ruston, LA
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Roy Lee Williams, a/k/a “Mickey”
Age 40 of Ruston, LA
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
Tangua Raybon, a/k/a “Tangua King”
Age 56 of Winnfield, LA
- Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine
- Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering
There are two additional individuals not named above who have been charged in this indictment. We are unable to disclose their identity at this time.
The indictment alleges that between January 1, 2022, and continuing through on or about November 27, 2024, in the Western District of Louisiana and elsewhere, the 14 defendants knowingly and intentionally conspired together to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
The indictment further alleges that on November 27, 2024, Cornelius Boston possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessed a Glock 9mm caliber pistol, Model 45, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and as a convicted felon. In addition, it is alleged that on or about November 27, 2024, Shedrick Green, III knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. On or about September 10, 2024, it is also alleged that Roy Lee Williams knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
In addition to the drug conspiracy and possession charges, the indictment alleges that between on or about May 1, 2021, and on or about November 27, 2024, Tangua Raybon knowingly traveled in interstate commerce between the State of Louisiana and the State of Texas with the intent to distribute the proceeds of an unlawful activity which was the distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The indictment includes a sentencing enhancement for Boston, Green, Askins, McMurray, Hunter, and Potts. As a result of their prior serious felony drug trafficking convictions, they are each subject to increased punishment under the criminal statute.
If convicted, the defendants face a sentence of not less than 10 years or more than life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, or both.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by DEA, ATF, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Ruston Police Department, Sulphur Police Department, Louisiana National Guard Counterdrug Unit, Louisiana Air National Guard, and U.S. Marshals Service, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This ongoing investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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.
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Local Tax Preparer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Sharhonda Law, 39, of Haughton, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 20 months in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release, for tax fraud. Law was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $123,455.
Sharhonda Law was a federal income tax return preparer who owned and operated Law’s Tax Service in Shreveport and was the sole tax return preparer for the company. According to information presented in court, Law prepared and filed a client’s 2019 tax return with the IRS. The return she prepared included a false and fraudulent Schedule F, “Profit or Loss from Farming,” which falsely claimed that the client had farming income and incurred farming expenses, resulting in a net farming loss. As a result of Law’s actions, the tax refund falsely showed the client was due a refund when, in fact, the client actually owed taxes for that tax year.
An investigation into the falsely filed tax return showed that Law’s client did not have a farm, nor did they tell Law they owned or operated a farm. In fact, the client never provided Law with any of the farming-related income or expenses that she input on the Schedule F. Law pleaded guilty on November 20, 2024, to one count of aiding and assisting in making and subscribing a false return.
Law made similar misrepresentations on six other tax returns prepared for clients. In addition, she falsified her own income on two of her personal tax returns, and she failed to file tax returns for other years. The total criminal tax loss in this case was determined to be $123,455.
The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robin S. McCoy.
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Four Defendants with Felony Convictions Sentenced to a Total of 15 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced the resolution of four separate firearm cases in the Western District of Louisiana today. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced the following four defendants:
Quinntavious Crump, 25, from Monroe, Louisiana was sentenced to 24 months (2 years) followed by three years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On June 27, 2021, After the stop, the LSP Trooper asked Crump to step out of the car and asked for consent to search the car. Crump granted consent and stated that he was going to jail because there was a gun in the car and that he was a convicted felon. Thereafter, a Glock pistol, model 23Gen4; caliber 40 loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition was found in the vehicle.
Andreveon Kyles, 20, from Monroe, Louisiana was sentenced to 60 months (5 years) followed by three years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On July 15, 2024, Andreveon Kyles was the passenger in a vehicle stopped by Ouachita Parish Sheriff deputies for a traffic violation. During the stop, deputies found that Kyles was in possession of a Taurus pistol; model: G2C (PTlll G2A); caliber: 9mm, and ammunition and determined that he was a convicted felon. Lyles subsequently pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on December 13, 2024, admitting that he knew he was prohibited from possessing the firearm and ammunition.
Charles Montgomery, 40, from Monroe, Louisiana, was sentenced to 42 months (3.5 years) followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. On June 20, 2022, Charles Montgomery was stopped by Ouachita Parish Sheriff deputies for a traffic violation. During the stop, deputies searched vehicle and located a Canik pistol, model: TP9 SF Elite; caliber: 9x19. Montgomery admitted to possessing the firearm and told deputies how he obtained the firearm. He knew at the time of the offense that he was a convicted felon. He was arrested and charged with felon in possession of a firearm. He pled guilty and admitted to the charge on December 13, 2024.
Zachary Coburn, 25, from Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced to 56 months (4 years and 8 months) followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. On May 13, 2024, Zachary Coburn entered S&W Pawn Shop in West Monroe, Louisiana. While there, he stole a Kel-Tec CNC Inc Rifle; Model: RDB; Caliber: 5.56, and ammunition and exited the shop. On May 15, 2024, an arrest warrant was executed at Coburn's West Monroe residence, and the rifle was found in the laundry room of the home. Post-Miranda, he admitted to possessing the rifle. Prior to possessing the rifle, Coburn had been convicted of a felony offense. He pled guilty on December 19, 2024 to the charge.
These cases were prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana State Police. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Seth Reeg, Robert F. Moody, Cheyenne Wilson, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Catherine L. Semmes.
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Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Case Concludes with Nine Defendants Sentenced to a Total of over 79 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Nine defendants involved in an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) operation have all been sentenced for their involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. This investigation in the Avoyelles Parish area resulted in a total sentence of over 79 years in federal prison for these defendants who conspired together in this drug trafficking organization. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell sentenced the nine defendants as follows:
Darrell Joseph Sampson, Jr., 39, of Marksville, Louisiana, has been sentenced to 113 months (9 years, 5 months) in prison, for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Christopher Glynn Bradford, 46, of Marksville, was sentenced to 50 months (4 years, 2 months) in prison, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Travis Demond Carroll, 34, of Baton Rouge, was sentenced to 180 months (15 years) in prison, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Kelly Johnson, Jr., 32, of Lake Charles, was sentenced to 90 months (7 years, 6 months) in prison, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Troy Wayne Dominick, 42, of Mansura, was sentenced to 80 months (6 years, 8 months) in prison, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Arthor Francisco, 37, of Moreauville, was sentenced to 160 months (13 years, 4 months) in prison, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Desmond Dewayne Jordan, 46, of Alexandria, was sentenced to 225 months (18 years, 9 months) in prison, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Joseph Patrick Murray, III, 27, of Cottonport, was sentenced to 37 months (3 years, 1 month) in prison, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Tremayne Lee Lavalais, 34, of Bunkie, was sentenced to 20 months (1 year, 8 months) in prison, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Each defendant will serve a term of supervised release following their release from prison.
The FBI Central Louisiana Gang Task Force began an investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine in the Avoyelles Parish area. During their investigation, agents conducted surveillance of the defendants and observed them conducting drug transactions. Law enforcement agents received authorization to conduct wiretaps on phones which the defendants were using to conduct their drug trafficking business. Between January and September of 2023, numerous communications between the defendants wherein they discussed their narcotics trafficking were intercepted by law enforcement. This organization sourced the methamphetamine from the Houston, Texas area and distributed it throughout central and south Louisiana.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Louisiana State Police, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John W. Nickel and LaDonte A. Murphy.
The investigation and conviction of these defendants is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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.
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Federal Jury Convicts Georgetown Man of Unauthorized Archaeological Digging of Arrowheads and Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a federal jury in Alexandria has returned a guilty verdict against Roy Everett Jordan, Jr., 57, of Georgetown, Louisiana, for the unauthorized removal of archaeological resources and illegal possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell presided over the trial. It took just 30 minutes for the jury to find Jordan guilty of the crimes.
According to information presented in court, in 2022, U.S. Forest Service agents learned that there had been unauthorized digging at four Native American archaeological sites in the Kisatchie National Forest in the Grant Parish, Louisiana. The digging had been done in places where arrowheads and other human-altered stones were known to be present. Through their investigation, agents obtained photo evidence of Jordan being in the area where the digging was taking place. Just a few hours after photo evidence was taken of him conducting unauthorized digging, Jordan made a post on social media about a find that he had made that day in that location and the piece of pottery he found.
A search warrant was obtained for Jordan’s residence and upon execution of that warrant, agents found numerous arrowheads and pottery shards. A table covered in a camouflage cloth was found which matched the photo Jordan had posted on social media. In addition, there was an outbuilding/shed on the property that was full of Jordan’s belongings and numerous arrowheads and pottery shards in multiple places. Agents found clothing in the shed that matched what Jordan had worn in the photo evidence that was obtained by law enforcement agents. In addition, agents found and seized a loaded ISSC semi-automatic .22 caliber pistol. Jordan has three prior felony convictions prohibiting him from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
Testimony by an archaeologist at trial established that the value of the restoration and repair of the disturbed archaeological sites at the Kisatchie National Forest will be greater than $500.
Jordan faces a sentence of not more than 2 years in prison, a $20,000 fine, or both, on the conviction for removal of archaeological resources, as well as restitution for the damage caused at the archeological sites. He also faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000, for the firearms conviction.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police and Grant Parish Sheriff's Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William C. Gaskins and Mike Shannon.
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Shreveport Man Found with a Firearm, Ammunition and Narcotics Sentenced to over 21 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport man has been sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. for possessing a firearm during the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Quintell Dewayne Gladney, 45, was sentenced to 262 months (21 years, 10 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to information presented in court, on May 26, 2020, officers with the Shreveport Police Department performed a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Gladney. The officer approached the vehicle and began a conversation with Gladney and noticed what appeared to be a firearm in his waist band. Officers learned that Gladney was a convicted felon and asked Gladney to step out of the vehicle, but he refused. The officers then opened the door and removed Gladney from the vehicle for officer safety. A pat down search revealed that he did in fact have a loaded FN Herstal Model Five Seven 5.7x28 pistol in his waist band.
In addition, officers found over $3,000 in cash in Gladney’s pockets, and several small bags of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana which were packaged for distribution in the vehicle. Over 41 rounds of 5.7x28 caliber ammunition were also found inside the vehicle. Gladney pleaded guilty on July 31, 2023, and admitted to illegally possessing the firearm.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert F. Moody.
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Lake Charles Physician, Wife, and Clinic Agree to Pay Medicare for Improper Billing Related to Implanted NeurostimulatorsRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Dr. Henry Goolsby, his wife and co-founder Patricia Lenae Goolsby, both of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and their medical clinic, Infinite Health Integrative Medical Center (“Infinite Health”), have agreed to pay $450,000 to resolve liability under the False Claims Act for the alleged improper billing of “P-Stim” devices.
From November of 2018 through April of 2020, Dr. Goolsby, Mrs. Goolsby, and Infinite Health billed Medicare for implanted neurostimulators, that required a surgical procedure in which the physician places wires that deliver stimulation to the epidural space on the spinal cord. This procedure must be performed in a surgery center, but Dr. Goolsby did not perform surgery. Instead, these “P-Stim” devices were applied in his office to his patients’ ears.
P-Stim is an electric acupuncture device that is affixed behind a patient’s ear using an adhesive. Needles are inserted into the patient’s ear and affixed using another adhesive. Once activated, the device then provides intermittent stimulation by electrical pulses. It is a single-use, battery-powered device designed to be worn for approximately four days until its battery runs out, at which time the device is thrown away. Medicare does not reimburse for acupuncture or for devices such as P-Stim, nor does Medicare reimburse for P-Stim as a neurostimulator or as implantation of neurostimulator electrodes.
“Falsely submitting claims for non-covered services and bilking Medicare out of needed funds is an abuse of our healthcare system,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “This type of fraud can be debilitating to the Medicare program, and we will continue to use all available tools to investigate and hold accountable anyone who defrauds federally funded healthcare programs.”
“This settlement underscores our steadfast commitment to enforcing the False Claims Act,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “We remain dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of federal health care programs and protecting the individuals who depend on them by investigating schemes that compromise the proper use of medical devices.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Theriot.
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Former U.S. Postal Service Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for His Involvement in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – Willie Shanderek Shavon Woodard, 23, of Monroe, Louisiana, has been sentenced for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. Woodard, a former U.S. Postal Service employee, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty to 108 months (9 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
The charges in this case stem from an investigation by law enforcement agents with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”) into suspicious packages being sent through the U.S. Mail to addresses in Monroe. On October 27, 2022, agents intercepted two suspicious packages that were destined for two residences in Monroe from California. Search warrants were obtained for both packages and agents recovered five one-pound packages in each parcel which was determined to be a total of ten pounds of methamphetamine. One of the packages was addressed to a residence in Monroe which was an abandoned house on Woodard’s mail route.
In August of 2023, USPIS agents intercepted another package destined for the same abandoned house in Monroe on Woodard’s mail route. A search warrant was obtained for the second package and inside was approximately 2.2 pounds of marijuana. Agents removed the controlled substance and placed the package back into the normal mail stream to the address. On August 28, 2023, agents observed Woodard meet one of his co-defendants and place the same package in the trunk of the vehicle being driven by his co-defendant. Soon after, a traffic stop was conducted of the vehicle and law enforcement officers found the package in the trunk of the vehicle, as well as a Glock 19 pistol under the driver’s seat. Woodard and his co-defendant were both subsequently arrested.
Through their investigation, agents found numerous messages between Woodard and other co-defendants notifying them of the address where the suspicious package had been sent in Monroe. In addition, there were numerous messages from Woodard to his co-defendants wherein he provided addresses of houses on his mail route. Agents learned that several packages had been sent from the same address in California to those addresses in Monroe on numerous occasions.
Woodard was charged and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and admitted to his involvement in the conspiracy.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Louisiana State Police, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Aaron Crawford and Special Assistant United States Attorney Catherine Semmes.
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Former Archdiocese Priest and Convicted Child Molester Sentenced for Passport Fraud and Ordered Removed from the United StatesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Jorge Antonio Velez-Lopez, 69, a former Archdiocese priest and convicted child molester, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell for passport fraud. Velez has been sentenced to 12 months in prison with credit for time served and a term of supervised release for one year. He was civilly denaturalized as a United States citizen and judicially ordered removed from the United States. As result, once Velez finishes serving his federal sentence and his sentence of imprisonment for a state offense he committed in Maryland, Velez will be remanded to the custody of Immigration Customs and Enforcement to be deported to Colombia.
According to documents introduced in court, Velez was born in Columbia and admitted to the U.S. as a temporary religious worker in 2003. On November 6, 2007, Velez was granted permanent residency. On March 15, 2013, he submitted an Application for Naturalization to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). On his application, Velez stated under penalty of perjury that he had never committed a crime for which he had not been arrested, that he had never given false or misleading information to any U.S. Government official while applying for an immigration benefit, and that he had never lied to any U.S. Government official to gain entry or admission to the U.S. On May 23, 2013, Velez was interviewed by a USCIS officer orally confirmed that he had never given false or misleading information to any U.S. Government official while applying for an immigration benefit and had never lied to any U.S. Government official to gain entry of admission to the U.S. while under oath and penalty of perjury. In a ceremony on May 29, 2013, Velez took the Oath of Allegiance and was naturalized as a United States citizen.
On September 27, 2013, Velez submitted a passport application as well as his naturalization certificate to the U.S. Department of State. Velez declared under penalty of perjury that he had not included any false documents in support of the application.
On February 19, 2020, in Howard County, Maryland, Velez was arrested by local authorities and charged with five counts of 3rd degree sex offense and one count of 4th degree sex offense. On May 14, 2021, in the Circuit Court for Howard County in Maryland, Velez pled guilty to sexual abuse of a minor for whom he had temporary responsibility for supervising, in violation of Maryland Criminal Code § 3-602(b)(1). He was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 9 years and ordered to register as a sex offender for life. Velez confessed to having sexually abused the victim from June 19, 2005, through June 18, 2009, while serving as the child’s priest.
“The United States Department of Justice, ICE, and our other federal law enforcement partners will use every tool in our arsenal to protect children and will prosecute and seek deportation of those who fraudulently obtain U.S. citizenship,” said Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.
“This case sends a clear message to individuals who commit any type of sexual offense, particularly those involving children, during the naturalization process – we will ensure that justice is done,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth. “The Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation will continue to hold individuals responsible for sexual offenses, especially those involving child victims.”
The case was investigated by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division in New Orleans as part of Operation False Haven, an ongoing national initiative designed to identify and prosecute child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtained United States citizenship. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell for the Western District of Louisiana prosecuted the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Devin Barrett with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Immigration Litigation and Autumn Cheramie with ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor.
Rated court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer under case numbers 1:23-cr-00212 and 1:24-cv-01534.
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Pineville Man Sentenced to More than 27 Years in Prison for His Role in the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Daniel Perryman Collins, 34, of Pineville, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 325 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, on child pornography charges.
This case is the result of an investigation into individuals using the dark web to communicate with others regarding exploiting children on the internet and causing them to produce child pornography. From January to November 2023, Collins and his co-defendant, Michael Bo Peacock, both together and individually, for their sexual gratification, caused minor children to produce child pornographic and sexually explicit images and videos of themselves by the use of threats and blackmail. Collins conducted all of this illegal activity in Pineville, Louisiana, while Peacock was located in the Dallas, Texas area.
According to information introduced in court, Collins and Peacock both participated in meeting children and coercing/blackmailing the children to engage in sexually explicit conduct and to produce videos of that conduct. Peacock would often contact a minor victim online and through various social media platforms, including SnapChat, and he and Collins would convince the minor victim to engage in sexually explicit activity and provide a video of that conduct. Collins and Peacock would then blackmail and threaten the victims to provide additional sexually explicit material. As part of the conspiracy, Collins utilized advanced security measures so that those images and materials could not be traced back to himself or Peacock.
Collins and Peacock gave each other access to all of the child pornography they had caused minor victims to produce by obtaining an account with an overseas cloud-based file hosting service, so they could post and share the child pornography images and videos that they had produced or obtained. Both defendants had an encryption key to use to access the material they had posted to the site. Through their investigation, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) Child Exploitation Operational Unit determined that Collins and Peacock exploited over 100 child victims and caused them to create child pornography. These images and videos were posted to their shared file hosting account.
On November 16, 2023, a search warrant was executed at Collins’ residence in Pineville. During the search, law enforcement agents obtained access to the cloud-based file hosting account of Collins and Peacock and were able to download all of the child pornography images and videos which they had created and posted to the account.
Collins pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography and one count of enticing a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity on November 21, 2024. Peacock pleaded guilty to the same charges on December 23, 2024, and will be sentenced at a later date.
“The sexual exploitation of minor children and the activities that these men participated in is horrendous and sickening,” said Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “These types of cases are becoming more prevalent in the United States and internationally and can happen in your own neighborhood. We encourage parents to be vigilant in keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity that your children could potentially be exposed to. We will continue to work to uncover this type of illegal activity and protect our minor children from offenders like this.”
“Through relentless investigations and cutting-edge technology, the FBI works every day to uncover hidden networks, identify victims and bring perpetrators to justice,” said FBI Criminal Investigative Division Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough. “Today’s sentencing sends the message that the FBI is committed to protecting vulnerable lives and ensuring no predator can thrive at the expense of our children.”
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Headquarter-based Child Exploitation Operation Unit, with assistance from the FBI’s New Orleans and Dallas Field Offices, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Danny Siefker.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678.
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Community Health Care Solutions, LLC and the Estate of Yolanda Burnom Agree to Pay $4.6 Million in Medicaid Fraud LawsuitRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Shreveport counseling service, Community Health Care Solutions, LLC (“Community Health”) and the estate of its deceased owner/operator, Yolanda Burnom, have agreed to pay $4,600,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicaid for reimbursement for services that were not rendered.
Through the investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, law enforcement agents determined that Community Health, through Burnom’s operations, created a scheme to defraud the Medicaid program by offering financial incentives to Medicaid recipients to share their patient information. Burnom and her employees would use that patient information to bill Medicaid for crisis intervention services that did not occur. Instead, counselors working for Community Health were instructed to create generic notes that could be cut and pasted onto patient files, in order to bill for crisis intervention, which carried the maximum reimbursement. In many instances, the counselors never met the patients or provided any services at all.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment on September 28, 2022, charging Burnom with one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, six counts of healthcare fraud, and two counts of wire fraud. Four months later, Burnom passed away unexpectedly, and civil litigation was the only remaining avenue for the United States to recover its money.
“This type of fraud will not be tolerated, and we will continue to work with our federal and state partners to root out corruption and recover money for the taxpayers,” said Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “Providers who take advantage of the Medicaid program deprive other citizens of needed medical services.”
“The Medicaid program depends on the honesty and integrity of providers, particularly when they submit claims for essential behavioral health services,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This settlement underscores HHS-OIG’s commitment to working with our federal and state partners to safeguard taxpayer-funded benefit programs and investigate health care fraud.”
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill stated, “People who commit Medicaid fraud will be caught, prosecuted, and demanded to pay restitution. We will continue to combat abuse of the system and bring justice for the hard working taxpayers of Louisiana. Great job by my office and all of our federal partners.”
This settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana, HHS-OIG, and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Theriot handled the civil litigation, along with HHS-OIG Special Agent Steven Cooper. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Reeg handled the criminal investigation.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
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Lake Charles Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Jeremy Wade Denegall, 45, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge David C. Joseph to 144 months (12 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, on drug trafficking charges.
On February 22, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of Denegall’s vehicle for a traffic violation on Interstate 10. Denegall was the sole occupant and driver of the vehicle. When officers approached the vehicle, they detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside and a search was conducted. Inside the vehicle they found a plastic baggie with a substance consistent with crack cocaine, a plastic bag containing a large amount of a crystal-like substance determined to be methamphetamine and also fentanyl. In addition, two firearms and a magazine with 19 rounds of ammunition and two digital scales were found.
Denegall was charged and pleaded guilty on November 15, 2024, to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.
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Natchitoches Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Christopher Aaron Stanfield, 37, of Natchitoches, Louisiana, has been sentenced for possession of child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell sentenced Stanfield to 97 months (8 years, 1 month) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for the offense.
On October 6, 2020, officers with the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office executed an arrest warrant at Stanfield’s residence in Natchitoches. Prior to the execution of the arrest warrant, a search warrant had also been secured for Stanfield’s apartment in connection with a separate and ongoing investigation. During the arrest and search, law enforcement officers collected several electronic devices, including iPads, a laptop, and an iPhone.
Stanfield was interviewed by law enforcement officers and admitted to committing several criminal offenses, including theft and identity theft. He further admitted that he had been using the “dark web” to commit these offenses. A subsequent forensic review of Stanfield’s seized electronic equipment was conducted by the Bossier City Marshal’s Office, Cybercrime Unit, and revealed that there were approximately 513 still images and 6 videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minor children. These images and videos included the rape of infants and toddlers. Stanfield pleaded guilty to the charge on March 14, 2024.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office and Bossier City Marshal’s Office, Cybercrime Unit, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678.
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Violations of the False Claims Act as the Result of Fraudulent Payment Protection Program Loans Settled in United States District CourtRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that the United States has obtained consent or default judgments in five civil fraud lawsuits alleging the individuals obtained loans for fictitious companies or fictitious self-employment under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). The defendants named in the lawsuits are Antoinette Kennedy, Andre Lane, Dieudonne Nlend, Tracey Thompson and Rashinda Harris. These defendants obtained forgiveness of their loans in violation of the False Claims Act. This litigation resulted in judgments in favor of the United States in the total amount of $138,413.72.
The PPP was an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act and administered by the Small Business Administration (“SBA”). The PPP was created to provide forgivable loans to support small businesses struggling to pay employees and other business expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. When applying for PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the requested loan and that the information provided in the loan application was true and accurate. To receive forgiveness, borrowers were required to submit signed loan forgiveness applications and documents containing certain information and certifications.
The case involving defendant Kennedy began in May 2024 when agents began investigating a fraudulent PPP loan received by her. Investigators with the Army Criminal Investigation Unit learned that Kennedy had no business, business income, or business expenses as she falsely stated on her application for the PPP loan. Their investigation further revealed that Kennedy had learned about a scheme on Instagram and obtained loans on her own behalf and prepared the false paperwork. The government filed a complaint to recover damages and civil penalties under the False Claims Act for PPP funds which Kennedy received which she was not entitled to. A default judgment was obtained by the United States against Kennedy in the amount of $48,813.72.
Thompson and Harris were small business owners and allowed someone to assist them with the creating of their false PPP loan applications. Their applications exaggerated the amount of business income that each of them actually had. Both defendants were responsible for submitting false loan applications and received PPP loans to which they would have not been entitled to receive. Similarly, Lane was self-employed and submitted a false self-employment income claim. Lane’s application exaggerated his self-employment income. A settlement was reached with each of these three defendants, and consent judgments were obtained by the United States in the amounts of $23,516, $23,415, and $23,435, respectively.
During the investigation of Dieudonne Nlend, agents interviewed him, and he admitted to falsifying self-employment income amounts. Nlend told agents that he used the proceeds from the PPP loan to assist a family member with a medical issue in another country. A consent judgment in the amount of $19,234 was obtained by the United States against Nlend.
“The United States Attorney’s Office will use every tool at our disposal - to include civil litigation - to root out fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer money,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “We are proud to work with our law enforcement partners to hold these wrongdoers accountable.”
The resolutions obtained were the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General, and for certain defendants, the Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division. The cases were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa L. Theriot.
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Defendant Convicted in Bank Fraud Conspiracy Case Receives Sentence in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Elijah D. Brown, 24, has been sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Brown was sentenced to 63 months in prison, to run consecutive to a 42-month federal prison sentence he is currently serving for illegal possession of a machine gun, for a total of 105 months (8 years, 9 months) in prison. In addition, Brown was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,254,790.
In April 2024, a federal grand jury in Shreveport returned an indictment charging 21 defendants in connection with a federal bank fraud case in the Shreveport area. All of those defendants have now entered guilty pleas or entered into pretrial diversion agreements. A summary of the 20 remaining defendants and their status is as follows:
Defendant Name
Conviction/Sentence
Destane Glass, 23,
Shreveport, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentencing set for 3/27/25
Sharmaine Jackson, 26,
Shreveport, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentencing set for 6/5/2025
ZarRajah Z. Watkins, 23,
Shreveport, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentencing set for 4/24/2025
Arazhia R. Gully, 24,
Bossier City, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentencing set for 2/20/2025
Eric D. Loud, 24,
Shreveport, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentencing set for 3/20/2025
Maya L. Green, 24,
Bossier City, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentencing set for 3/27/2025
Olivia M. Deboe, 23,
Shreveport, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentenced to 3 years supervised probation and ordered to pay $34,261.81 in restitution
Donte N. Larrimore, 24,
Shreveport, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentenced to 3 years supervised probation
Shamaya S. Pouncy, 27,
Shreveport, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentenced to 9 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,317.50
Precious Wilbert, 25,
Shreveport, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentenced to 3 years of supervised probation
Cynthia R. Bryant, 22,
Shreveport, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentencing set for 4/10/2025
Trameka McGinty, 25,
Shreveport, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentencing set for 3/27/2025
Shaquentalas B. McGinty,
26, Shreveport, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentencing set for 6/5/25
Javonte J. Lejay, 28,
Shreveport, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentencing set for 3/27/2025
Octavia L. Mitchell, 33,
Shreveport, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentencing set for 3/20/2025
Shmarrian J. Taylor, 27,
Shreveport, LA
- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud
- Sentencing set for 3/27/2025
Rakeydra S. Shepherd, 28,
Shreveport, LA
- Pleaded guilty to possession of a counterfeit security
- Sentencing set for 2/20/2025
Tina Marie Bryant, 43,
Shreveport, LA
- Entered into Pretrial Diversion Agreement
Lakysa S. Barfield, 26,
Shreveport, LA
- Entered into Pretrial Diversion Agreement
Kyra D. Washington-Bates,
24, Shreveport, LA
- Entered into Pretrial Diversion Agreement
This scheme to defraud began in January 2021 and continued through October 31, 2022. The defendants admitted to their involvement in the conspiracy to defraud banks including USAA Savings Bank (“USAA Bank”), Navy Federal Credit Union, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Barksdale Federal Credit Union and Bank of America.
Arazhiah Gully, Maya Green and ZarRajah Watkins worked at Teleperformance, a multinational company that provided business services including a call center in Shreveport. The call center provided customer service to USAA Bank. Gully, Green and Watkins all had access to USAA Bank customer information including names of customers, their ages, account balances, and account numbers. These three defendants admitted to conspiring with Destane Glass, Elijah Brown, Sharmaine Jackson, and others to defraud USAA Bank. Gully, Green and Watkins improperly obtained account holder information so that it could be used by others to create counterfeit USAA Bank checks, and they were paid to provide the account information. Counterfeit checks traced to accounts that these defendants accessed totaled over $4 million.
Glass, Brown and Jackson used social media and other methods to recruit individuals in the Shreveport area with bank accounts to use their accounts to deposit the counterfeit checks to make money. The co-defendants involved in the scheme would open accounts at various financial institutions under their own names and then provide their access cards and login information to other co-defendants. Counterfeit checks were then provided to these co-defendants to be deposited into their own personal bank accounts, and they were instructed to withdraw the funds in various ways, including making withdrawals at local casinos, through ATMs, Apple Cash payments, and PayPal payments. After withdrawing the money, the defendants would meet Glass, Brown, Jackson and other co-defendants in various places, including casino parking lots, and give the funds to them, with a portion of the proceeds going to the one who made the withdrawal. Activity in the casinos were captured by the surveillance cameras at those locations which helped solve the case. The counterfeit checks that were deposited were in varying amounts ranging from $5,000 to $40,000.
“The defendants involved in this conspiracy shamelessly targeted vulnerable elderly victims, stealing their personal identifying and bank account information and using it to take advantage of them,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “We urge everyone to make a habit of checking your bank accounts regularly to avoid becoming a victim of this type of fraud. If you see suspicious transactions, report it to your bank immediately.”
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police and Shreveport Police Department and was prosecuted by Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.
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Bienville Parish Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Committing Wire Fraud Involving the Cares Act and Paycheck Protection ProgramRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Shaquaila Lewis a/k/a Shaquaila Lewis-Chatman, 36, of Gibsland, Louisiana, has been sentenced on one count of wire fraud. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Lewis to 27 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
In March 2020 Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security ("CARES") Act which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the CARES Act, the Small Business Administration ("SBA") provided Economic Injury Disaster Loans ("EIDL"), which were low-interest financing to small businesses, renters and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters. The CARES Act also provided authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through a program referred to as the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”).
Lewis devised a scheme to defraud the SBA and various financial institutions by falsifying PPP and EIDL Program loan applications, forms, and other documents, and submitting fraudulent loan applications. At the sentencing hearing, the court found that Lewis was responsible for over $1.1 million in loss as a result of multiple fraudulent loans involving herself and others.
As an example, in February 2021, Lewis electronically submitted a false and fraudulent PPP application to Square Capital in the name of Perfect Memories Travel seeking approximately $20,833 in PPP funds. Lewis signed the application and falsely certified that the application and all information provided was true and accurate. Lewis falsely certified that the funds would be used “to retain workers and maintain payroll.” She also falsely certified that she had used the full loan amount from a prior PPP application submitted on behalf of Perfect Memories Travel only for eligible expenses. A few days later, Square Capital disbursed approximately $20,583 in loan benefits to a bank account held by Lewis, and she used those funds for personal expenses.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg and Assistant Chief Justin M. Woodard of the Department of Justice Criminal Division – Fraud Section.
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Sabine Parish Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Huey P. Scott, Jr., 63, of Many, Louisiana, has been sentenced for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Scott was found guilty of the charge by a federal jury on September 18, 2024, following a three-day trial.
United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Scott to 151 months (12 years, 7 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, on the drug trafficking charge. Evidence at the jury trial established that agents with the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office’s Tactical Narcotics Team conducted controlled buys of methamphetamine from Scott at his residence in Many, Louisiana, on three separate occasions in 2022. Agents learned that Scott was a frequent user and distributor of methamphetamine, and it was proven that he sold the drugs.
After law enforcement conducted multiple controlled buys, agents executed a search warrant and arrested Scott at his residence. During the search of Scott’s property, agents found and seized a duffel bag containing a clear plastic bag which had approximately 139.31 grams of methamphetamine. In another bag, agents found what appeared to be smaller baggies containing smaller quantities of methamphetamine. The seized drugs were tested by the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory and found to be methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office’s Tactical Narcotics Team and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Shannon and Earl M. Campbell.
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Jennings Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Brandon James Willridge, 41, of Jennings, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays to 84 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to information presented in court, in January 2023, law enforcement officers were familiar with Willridge and aware of his drug trafficking activities in the area and had an active arrest warrant for him. On January 30, 2023, officers with the Vermillion Parish Sheriff’s Office and Gueydan Police Department conducted a traffic stop of Willridge as the result of the active arrest warrant for him.
During the traffic stop, officers found Willridge to be in possession of a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun underneath the driver’s seat of the vehicle. In addition, Willridge had a bottle containing several orange pills in the driver door console of the vehicle, which were confirmed to be Alprazolam, a controlled substance. Other evidence indicated Willridge had been trafficking in narcotics during this time in the Gueydan and Lake Arthur areas. Willridge pleaded guilty to a Bill of Information on October 18, 2024, charging him with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Willridge has prior felony convictions for false representation of a controlled substance in 2003 and possession with intent to distribute marijuana in 2010.
The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Vermillion Parish Sheriff’s Office and Gueydan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Myers P. Namie.
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Owner of Retirement Services Company Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Money from Clients Through Wire Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Jerry O. Pearson, 62, of Alexandria, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell for committing wire fraud. Pearson was sentenced to 63 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution to his victims in the amount of $3,431,152.21.
According to information presented in court, Pearson was the owner/operator of Mid South Retirement Services, LLC (“Mid South”) located in Boyce, Louisiana, from 2012 to 2021. Pearson managed Self-Directed Individual Retirement Accounts (SDIRA). An SDIRA is an IRA held by a custodian that allows investment in a wider range of assets than most conventional IRA custodians permit. Mid South served as the custodian of SDIRAs and managed approximately $40 million in assets. Pearson was also the registered agent and manager/member of an unrelated company, Gray-Walk Farms, LLC, which was registered in the State of Louisiana and located in Alexandria. Gray-Walk Farms is unrelated to Mid South and did not provide SDIRAs.
Pearson created a scheme to defraud clients where he would take funds that Mid South was holding as the custodian, and transfer them to other accounts he controlled, without the client’s permission. Pearson used intermediary accounts at financial institutions in the Western District of Louisiana and elsewhere in the name of Mid South and others to move the money out of the Mid South Funding account where client funds were held. The funds would then be moved to Gray-Walk Farm’s accounts, Pearson’s personal bank accounts, or investment accounts in his name. In total, during the scheme, Pearson transferred $3,431,152.21 in client funds from the Mid South client funding bank account to other accounts he controlled. Pearson then used the funds for himself, as well as the benefit of his family and other companies that he controlled. In order to keep the scheme from being detected, Pearson would misrepresent to clients that he was investing the funds as they had directed, when, in fact, he was taking the money. Pearson pleaded guilty on August 16, 2024, to the Bill of Information charging him with one count of wire fraud.
“Unfortunately, there were over 70 victims who fell prey to Pearson’s schemes and lies in connection with this case and many are left without their life savings and retirement as a result of his selfish actions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “This defendant conned many people for years, but his actions have finally caught up with him. This sentence should send a message that if you commit this type of fraud, you will go to prison.”
“Mr. Pearson abused the trust of his clients for the benefit of himself and his family," said Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of FBI New Orleans. “The FBI will continue to work with partners like the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions to bring justice to people who are victimized in cases like this.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth D. Reeg. The Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions was also involved in the investigation.
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Shreveport Man and Two Women Sentenced to Federal Prison for Their Involvement in Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Resulting in Death CaseRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that three individuals from Shreveport have been sentenced for their involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy which resulted in the death of a Shreveport man. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote sentenced the three defendants today.
Martin William Thompson, 53, was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Rachel Ann Hassell, 47, was sentenced to 121 months (10 years, 1 month) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Courtney Renee Cox, 41, was sentenced to 121 months (10 years, 1 month) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
In addition, Thompson and Cox were ordered to pay $13,234.73 in restitution to the deceased victim's family.
Thompson, Hassell, and Cox were charged in an indictment in April 2022 with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injury, possession with intent to distribute heroin, using or maintaining drug premises and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.
In 2021, agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) and Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office received information about the distribution of fentanyl and other illegal drugs in the Shreveport area and began an investigation. At the direction of DEA agents, on July 24, 2021, a Louisiana State Police trooper stopped a vehicle being driven by two individuals on Jewella Avenue in Shreveport. During a subsequent search of their car, agents found 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.1 kilograms of fentanyl in a brick form, and 639.9 grams of fentanyl pills (over 5,000 pills). Agents learned that these two individuals had mad multiple previous trips to El Paso to purchase narcotics dating back to January 2021. Through their investigation, agents learned that the fentanyl pills were destined for Martin Thompson and that he had purchased the fentanyl.
On May 29, 2021, officers responded to a single car crash in Greenwood, Louisiana, and discovered that the driver was unconscious and not breathing but was otherwise uninjured. Inside the vehicle was the driver’s minor son who was also unharmed. The driver passed away that day and the medical examiner determined his death was caused by a fentanyl overdose. Further investigation by DEA agents proved that the driver had obtained fentanyl from Courtney Cox, who had gotten it from her local supplier, Thompson. Cox later confessed to supplying the deceased victim with the fentanyl she obtained from Thompson. She also admitted that Thompson had warned her that the fentanyl pills were very strong and to only snort a half pill. Cox explained that she passed the warning to her customers, including the deceased victim.
Through further investigation into this drug trafficking conspiracy, Rachel Hassell was arrested in Shreveport in September 2021 for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, later determined to be heroin. Following her arrest, DEA agents searched Thompson’s business and discovered more heroin. In total, the lab determined that Hassell possessed 50.864 grams of heroin. Agents obtained a search warrant for Hassell’s cell phone and learned that Thompson was receiving large shipments of fentanyl through another co-conspirator and Hassell began distributing the fentanyl along with Thompson. Numerous text messages were found between Hassell and Thompson concerning the delivery of fentanyl. The text messages showed that the two were working together to distribute the fentanyl, as well as heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana, and were storing the drugs at his place of business on Williamson Way in Shreveport. Hassell admitted to agents that she and Thompson discussed that the fentanyl pills were very strong, and he should tell his customers to consume only a half pill at a time.
Thompson and Cox each pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injury. Hassell pleaded guilty to a Bill of Information charging her with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute heroin, and using or maintaining drug premises for the purpose of distributing and using fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana.
“This is the first distribution of fentanyl resulting in death conviction obtained in the Western District of Louisiana,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “Fentanyl is a very dangerous drug and just a few grains of the substance can have deadly consequences which is unfortunately what happened in this case. We will continue to vigorously prosecute those who possess this drug, and any other illegal controlled substances, and will work closely with all of our law enforcement partners to disrupt these traffickers, stopping them in their tracks.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Louisiana State Police, and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert F. Moody.
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Jonesboro Man Sentenced for Possession of FentanylRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – Jarrell M. Palmer, 44, of Jonesboro, Louisiana, was sentenced today for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced Palmer to 188 months (15 years, 8 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
In April 2023, agents with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted a suspicious package mailed from California to an address in Jonesboro. Agents exposed the package to an open air examination by a narcotic detecting K-9 who alerted to the presence of the odor of narcotics coming from inside the box. A warrant was obtained, and agents found several jigsaw puzzle boxes inside, one which contained Ziplock-style bags wrapped in plastic wrap and carbon paper. Inside those bags were more than 5,000 pills suspected to be fake oxycodone tablets. Subsequent chemical analysis determined that the pills comprised a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and weighed approximately 552.5 grams.
Law enforcement agents repackaged the box and conducted a controlled delivery of the package to the front door of the Jonesboro address. Agents observed the defendant’s mother retrieve the package from the front doorstep and take it inside the residence. Shortly thereafter, agents were alerted by way of sensors installed on the package that it had been opened and they converged on the home to execute the search warrant. Agents found Palmer standing outside of the home and arrested him. Palmer had residue on his hands from spray that was added to the package by law enforcement agents. Inside the home was the suspicious package containing the jigsaw puzzle boxes with the fentanyl, as well as marijuana and a digital scale. Palmer admitted that the suspicious package was his and that he sold the pills to other individuals. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on December 12, 2023.
The case was investigated by U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office and Metro Narcotics Unit in Monroe, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Shannon.
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Federal Jury Convicts Local Rapper of Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that a federal jury returned a guilty verdict today against Keynon Frazier, a/k/a “Green Eyez,” 29, of Shreveport, on an illegal possession of firearms charge. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. presided over the three-day jury trial.
Evidence presented at trial showed that on April 15, 2024, officers with the Shreveport Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle being driven by Frazier in the downtown Shreveport area, which ended with his vehicle crashing into a telephone pole and another vehicle. Officers approached the crashed vehicle and found Frazier, who was the sole occupant and driver of the vehicle. Also inside the vehicle on the front passenger floorboard, officers found two firearms, a Glock 17 firearm, and a Glock 45 firearm, along with an expended shell casing stuck within the chamber of the Glock 45. In addition, there was a bullet-size hole found in the front driver’s side windshield of the vehicle.
Officers determined that Frazier had prior felony convictions for aggravated battery and second degree robbery, and he was arrested at the scene and taken into custody. As a convicted felon, Frazier was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before reaching their guilty verdict.
Frazier faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing for Frazier has been set for May 22, 2025, at 3:00.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Shreveport Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Aaron Crawford and Cheyenne Wilson.
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Drug Trafficker and Convicted Felon Sentenced on Federal Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the sentencing of two men in Monroe yesterday. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced the defendants as follows:
Desmond K. Hollins, 47, of Monroe, was sentenced to 128 months (10 years, 8 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. In November 2022, officers with the Metro Narcotics Unit in Monroe executed a search warrant at Hollins’ home in Monroe. During that search, law enforcement officers found methamphetamine, a digital scale, and packaging material, as well as four firearms and various rounds of ammunition. The seized narcotics were sent to the crime lab for analysis and was confirmed to be a mixture and substance of methamphetamine and weighed 322.75 grams. Hollins pleaded guilty on September 4, 2024, to the charges and agreed to forfeiture of the four seized firearms and ammunition.
Justin Wright, 45, of West Monroe, was sentenced to 96 months (8 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On August 15, 2023, officers with the West Monroe Police Department went to a residence in West Monroe after receiving a report that Wright was firing a pistol in his yard. When law enforcement officers arrived, they found Wright standing in his yard with a loaded Taurus G2C 9mm pistol in his front waist band. Wright has previous felony convictions for attempted possession of a firearm by a felon and simple arson and knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. He was arrested and charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Wright pleaded guilty to the charge on September 24, 2024.
These cases were investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Monroe Police Department, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, and West Monroe Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica D. Cassidy and Seth D. Reeg.
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Seven Defendants Sentenced to a Total of 41+ Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms and NarcoticsRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – Seven defendants were sentenced this week in the Monroe Division for illegal possession of firearms and narcotics, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced the defendants as follows:
- Adrien Marcel Brown, 44, of St. Joseph, Louisiana was sentenced to 126 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute or possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On April 14, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of the residence of Brown and Andrea Lenae Bass, Brown’s co-defendant. Agents found methamphetamine inside the home. The suspected narcotics were sent to the crime lab for analysis and confirmed to be over 50 grams of pure methamphetamine. Brown pleaded guilty on September 4, 2024.
- Bobby R. Thompson, 45, of Monroe, was sentenced to 68 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On March 21, 2024, Monroe Police Department officers detained Thompson due to an active arrest warrant as well as a battery investigation. Thompson was found to be in possession of a SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol and ammunition. Thompson was a convicted felon and knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition and was arrested. He pleaded guilty to the charge on September 18, 2024.
- Desmond Copeland, 37, of Monroe, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic complaint involving Copeland on April 6, 2024. Deputies found Copeland to be in possession of a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 9mm pistol and ammunition. As a convicted felon, Copeland was prohibited from possessing the firearm and ammunition. He pleaded guilty on September 24, 2024.
- Shawn M. Robertson, 39, of Monroe, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In August 2023, a Louisiana State Police trooper attempted to stop Robertson’s vehicle for speeding. The trooper lost sight of Robertson for a short time but found him in a nearby driveway. Robertson was the sole occupant and driver of the vehicle. The trooper found a loaded 9mm magazine on the floorboard of the vehicle. Meanwhile, another trooper was stopped by a passing motorist who stated that he had found an abandoned pistol on the road. Law enforcement officers investigated further and learned that the magazine in Robertson’s vehicle fit the pistol found on the road and learned that Robertson’s girlfriend had purchased the Taurus G2C firearm approximately 85 days before. In addition, their investigation confirmed that Robertson had the firearm in his possession before ejecting it from the vehicle onto the roadway. Robertson pleaded guilty on September 16, 2024, and admitted to knowing he was in possession of the firearm despite being prohibited from doing so.
- Dylan Cueto, 33, of West Monroe, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On April 12, 2024, deputies with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the residence of Cueto. Deputies found him in possession of a Smith & Wesson M&P 380 Shield pistol, a Marlin 12-gauge shotgun, a Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifle, and ammunition. Cueto pleaded guilty on September 24, 2024, and admitted to possessing the firearms and ammunition knowing he was prohibited from doing so.
- Dequarius Dequan Bailey, 30, of Monroe, was sentenced to 68 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In December 2023, Monroe Police Department officers executed a search warrant at Bailey’s residence and found a DPMS A-15 223-5.56mm rifle loaded with a high-capacity drum magazine hidden under his bed. Law enforcement officers also found a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol hidden in the bathroom. Bailey was arrested and admitted to possessing the firearms despite the fact that he was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing them. Bailey pleaded guilty to the charge on April 19, 2024.
- Dalton W. Knight, 24, of West Monroe, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On February 11, 2023, an individual sold a Savage rifle to a pawn shop in West Monroe. An investigation by Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office determined that the firearm had previously been stolen. Deputies interviewed the individual that sold the firearm and learned that he had purchased it from another individual and that had traded with Knight for the firearm on December 31, 2022. Knight admitted to possessing the rifle and trading it. He pleaded guilty to the charge on September 24, 2024, and admitted to knowing that as a convicted felon he was prohibited from having any firearm in his possession.
“There is a reason why crime is down in Monroe and the surrounding area,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “In partnering with our local district attorney’s offices and law enforcement agencies, we are highly focused on targeting the right offenders and seeking sentences of imprisonment for those who illegally possess firearms and distribute narcotics in our communities. Our office, the DEA and the ATF will forever appreciate these partnerships which are vital to public safety.”
These cases were investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Louisiana State Police, Monroe Police Department and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office. Special Assistant United States Attorney Cathy Semmes and Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica D. Cassidy, William C. Gaskins, and Mike Shannon prosecuted the cases.
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North Louisiana Man Convicted by Federal Jury of Sexual Exploitation, Trafficking and Production of Child Pornography Involving Children in the PhilippinesRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Richard Dean Hicks, 68, of Pioneer, Louisiana, has been convicted by a jury in Monroe following a three-day trial. United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty presided over the trial.
Hicks was charged in a superseding indictment September 27, 2023, with attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of sex trafficking of a minor, one count of promotion and solicitation of child pornography and five counts of attempted production of child pornography. The charges in the indictment stemmed from a nationwide investigation that began in 2012 into individuals who were soliciting child sex traffickers in the Philippines to share child sexual abusive material (CSAM) via live stream video. The individuals under investigation paid money for the child sex traffickers in the Philippines to sexually abuse children, while they watched and directed the sex trafficker’s sexual abuse of the children.
Through this investigation, agents with Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at a residence in Philadelphia. As a result of evidence obtained, agents were able to identify an individual in the Philippines who was selling the sexually explicit live webcam shows of female adults engaging in the sexual abuse of underage children. Further investigation led to the identification of an individual in Louisiana, later identified as Hicks, who had been communicating with multiple females in the Philippines. From December 2017 through July 2020, Hicks and the females in the Philippines shared approximately 500 text messages and live video Skype calls wherein Hicks would pay the Philippine females to sexually abuse children as young as 5 years of age while he watched and told the women the type of sexual abuse he wanted them to perform on the children.
Evidence was introduced at trial proving that Hicks had communicated with these females in the Philippines via text messages and Skype video calls and paid money through Western Union on numerous occasions to view these individuals performing sexually explicit acts with underage children. The payments ranged from $25 to $120.
On May 31, 2022, agents obtained a federal search warrant for Hicks’ residence in Pioneer, Louisiana, and seized all of his computers and other electronic equipment used to participate in watching these sex shows in exchange for money.
The jury took just 2½ hours to reach their verdict of guilty on all counts in the indictment. Hicks was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service immediately following the verdict. Hicks faces a sentence not less than 15 years and up to life in prison, followed by up to lifetime supervised release, and a fine of up to $ 250,000. His sentencing will be set at a later date.
“This case involves some of the most heinous forms of child abuse that we have seen,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “It is because of the determination and hard work of the agents with Homeland Security Investigations that this international investigation led to north Louisiana and the home of this defendant. Children should never be exposed to this kind of abuse and it is our calling to continue fighting to stop this kind of illegal activity by defendants like Hicks.”
"This type of abuse is uniquely insidious. Criminal buyers like Hicks pay to direct adults to sexually abuse children in other countries on livestreams that are challenging for investigators to find and disrupt. Despite the complexity of this case the jury saw the magnitude of the crime and their verdict sends the message those who victimize children will be held accountable. HSI will never cease in our efforts to dismantle these abuse networks and seek justice for the children they victimize,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune for Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans.
The defendant who was arrested in Philadelphia was sentenced to 228 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. The female subjects in the Philippines are still the subject of a joint ongoing investigation with the Philippines and U.S. law enforcement. Numerous other females have been arrested. Pursuant to this investigation, there have been over 300 children rescued to date.
The case was investigated by HSI New Orleans with assistance from HSI New England, divisions of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Casey N. Richmond and J. Luke Walker.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678.
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Lake Charles Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Joseph Carlton Etienne, 40, of Lake Charles was sentenced this week in the Lake Charles Division of the Western District of Louisiana. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced Etienne to 71 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a firearm.
According to information presented in court, on or about September 7, 2022, Etienne was located at a Dollar General by detectives with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office for outstanding warrants. Etienne attempted to leave the Dollar General after observing law enforcement there and he was stopped and arrested. Law enforcement officers found Etienne in possession of a Glock 9mm handgun and ammunition inside his vehicle. Etienne has several prior felony convictions, including possession of controlled dangerous substances, resisting an officer, and attempted possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment in March 2024 charging him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Etienne pleaded guilty to the charge on September 6, 2024, and admitted to possessing the firearm and ammunition knowing he was prohibited from doing so.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Casey N. Richmond.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
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United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown Announces Resignation from OfficeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, LAFAYETTE, MONROE, ALEXANDRIA, LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown has announced his resignation, effective January 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. from the Department of Justice. Brown was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. to the position of United States Attorney on November 15, 2021, confirmed by the United States Senate on December 7, 2021, and sworn in on December 10, 2021. During his tenure as United States Attorney, Brown served as the chief law enforcement officer in the Western District of Louisiana, which includes 42 of the state’s 64 parishes and geographically encompasses two-thirds of the state of Louisiana. As U.S. Attorney, Brown oversaw the investigation and litigation of all federal criminal and civil cases brought on behalf of the United States in the Western District of Louisiana.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime and the pinnacle of my career to serve the American people and the citizens of the Western District of Louisiana for 12 years, with the last 3 being the U.S. Attorney. I thank President Biden for nominating me, Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy for their constant and unwavering support and Attorney General Merrick Garland for his vision and guidance during my tenure,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “Working with the men and women in this office over the years as well as our federal, state, and local partners has been the privilege of a lifetime. They are my family and will be sorely missed. U.S. Department of Justice employees are American heroes.”
During his tenure, U.S. Attorney Brown led an office of approximately 90 prosecutors, civil litigators, and administrative and support personnel in executing the mission of the U.S. Department of Justice by representing the United States in federal court. In his role, he oversaw investigations and prosecutions mainly involving violent crimes, firearm offenses, child exploitation, health care fraud, drug trafficking, gang activities, civil rights violations, public corruption, and white-collar crime offenses.
Within months of being confirmed, Brown was chosen by Attorney General Merrick Garland to serve on his Attorney General Advisory Committee (AGAC) as the U.S. Fifth Circuit representative. The AGAC is comprised of a select group of U.S. Attorneys that assists the Attorney General in creating department wide policy for all 94 districts and other DOJ components. It was created to serve as the voice of the U.S. Attorneys and to advise the Attorney General on policy, management and operational issues impacting the offices of the U.S. Attorneys. In addition, he also served on the AGAC’s white collar crime, violent crime, and civil rights subcommittees. In 2023, Brown was appointed to the Resource Allocation Working Group (RAWG), comprised of another select group of U.S. Attorneys and DOJ leaders, chosen to advise the Executive Office for United States Attorneys and the Deputy Attorney General on the allocation of personnel resources in all United States Attorneys’ Offices.
Under Brown’s leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office successfully prosecuted hundreds of firearms cases in an effort to reduce violent crime in our district. Other priority cases included the trafficking of drugs to include fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin, as well as public corruption, child pornography, and human trafficking. As a result of these efforts, the district saw significant declines in the violent crime rates in the Shreveport and Monroe divisions in 2023 and 2024. These results were a by-product of Brown developing close and strong working relationships with other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and state district attorneys’ offices. For example, Brown entered into agreements with several state district attorneys that allowed state prosecutors to become Special Assistant United States Attorneys and prosecute violent crime in federal court. The District has also been a DOJ leader in the implementation of E-Litigation strategies resulting in enhanced efficiency of investigations and litigation. A sampling of notable cases and outreach efforts during U.S. Attorney Brown’s tenure are as follows:
Civil Cases/Asset Recovery
- The district court ordered William Ross Hickman to pay restitution of over $2.6 million pursuant to a conviction of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud for which he received 52 months in prison. The Financial Litigation Unit (FLU) secured an order of foreclosure and sale of motor vehicles, jewelry and immovable property belonging to Hickman resulting in approximately $900,000 being applied to Hickman’s restitution balance;
- A Clean Air Act enforcement case was brought in United States v. Power Performance Enterprises, et. al for manufacturing and selling devices that thwart the emission controls installed on diesel trucks. This office filed a garnishment against the defendants resulting in the seizure of $1,000,000 in satisfaction of civil penalties;
- Entered into a settlement where Lafayette Physical Rehabilitation Hospital and its parent company Acadiana Management Group, paid $1.2 million, and Dr. Carolyn Smith agreed to pay $575,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare for unnecessarily inpatient rehabilitation services;
- The District’s Financial Litigation Unit secured more than $49 million in collections for victims of crimes and to satisfy debts owed to the United States. The unit also forfeited $200,000 in property seized from criminal defendants and arising out of civil forfeiture matters.
Civil Rights/Public Integrity Accomplishments
- Joined the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle and Eastern Districts of Louisiana in opening an investigation into the Louisiana State Police to assess whether the department has a pattern and practice of engaging in racially discriminatory policing. The investigation is pending. Also joined these offices in filing a lawsuit against the state of Louisiana and the Louisiana Department of Corrections (LDOC) for violating the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA) alleging that the state and LDOC has a pattern and practice of confining incarcerated persons for weeks and sometimes months after they have completed their prison sentences and are legally entitled to be released. This litigation is pending;
- Jared Desadier, a former Monroe Police Department officer, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison on excessive force charges when the victim, who posed no threat to] officers, surrendered after leading officers on a brief foot chase;
- Dylan Hudson, a former Shreveport Police Department officer, was sentenced to 21 months in prison after beating and tasing a non-violent loitering victim;
- Former Shreveport Police Department officers Jeffrey Peters and James Cisco pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy charges for defrauding the Community-Based Crime Reduction Program, a grant administered by the DOJ that pays officers for overtime worked;
- Former Desoto Parish Sheriff Deputies Javarrea Pouncy and Demarkes Grant were sentenced to 37 months and 10 months in prison respectively for using excessive force against a detainee at the Desoto Parish jail;
- Harold “BJ” Sanford, a former Bossier City Police sergeant, was sentenced to 1 year and a day in federal prison for defrauding the Bossier City Police Union and obtaining controlled substances by fraud;
- Chance Seneca was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison for kidnapping and attempting to murder a gay man as part of a months-long hate crimes scheme to kidnap and murder gay men.
Child Exploitation
- An investigation revealed William Malone sexually abused and threatened a child over several years, oftentimes from a vessel off the coast of Louisiana, near Abbeville, Louisiana. Malone was sentenced to a total of 160 years on all counts and ordered to pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $206,580.80;
- Jacob De La Paz, a high school teacher and coach was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for attempted receipt of child pornography after requesting a pornographic video over social media from a student;
- Gary Harper was sentenced to 300 months in prison for production of child pornography involving children between 13 and 16 years old in the Monroe area. The investigation revealed he victimized over 25 minor females;
- Deray Richard was sentenced to 228 months in prison in connection with a human trafficking case in which he groomed and later physically and sexually assaulted multiple victims. The illicit activity took place in Kentucky, north Texas, and Bossier City, LA.
Drug Diversion/Drug Trafficking Convictions
- Brian Broussard and Sheila Adams were sentenced to 162 and 24 months respectively for drug conspiracy and firearm charges arising out of the Lafayette area;
- Larry Daniels, a medical doctor authorized to treat patients with opioid addictions, was sentenced to 36 months in prison and a $20,000 fine for prescribing controlled substances, some which were opioids, outside the bonds of medical practices;
- Gabriel Hawthorne was sentenced to 120 months in prison for conspiring with Frederick Thornton (210 months) and Andrea Mitchell (18 months) for distributing heroin and fentanyl in the Lafayette area. Customers were led to believe they were purchasing heroin, when in fact it the heroin was laced with fentanyl;
- Brian Jesus Garcia Pena and 3 additional defendants were sentenced to a total of 560 months after using smuggled contraband cellular telephones to communicate with Mexican cartel members to coordinate methamphetamine trafficking into USP Pollock;
- Anthony Pouncy and 9 additional defendants were sentenced to a combined 708 months on cocaine trafficking, money laundering charges and Payroll Protection Program (PPP) fraud;
- James Weeks and 6 additional defendants were sentenced to a combined 1,308 months for a methamphetamine and firearm charges involving drug smuggling with the Mexican cartel at USP Pollock, the Natchitoches area, Alexandria area as well as portions of Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Fraud/White Collar
- Convicted 24 members or affiliates of Shreveport street gang Step or Die (SOD) of wire fraud charges after they obtained over $600,000 in SBA PPP loans and attempted to obtain another $2.2 million for no legitimate business purposes. The defendants used the money, in part, to purchase firearms and conduct other illicit activities. Sentences ranged anywhere from supervised probation to 71 months in prison;
- Joseph Boswell was sentenced to 60 months in prison and $646,259.70 in restitution for bankruptcy fraud and tax evasion after concocting schemes to avoid paying taxes and creditors from whom he borrowed;
- In US v. David D. DeBerardinis, Shreveport businessman DeBerardinis pleaded guilty to wire fraud after defrauding numerous victims out of millions of dollars. DeBerardinis represented himself and his business entities to be part of a major energy company in the petroleum industry involved in a complex fuel trading business, soliciting private funds in exchange for guaranteed return of principal and interest. However, at the time the funding was obtained, he was not making fuel trades nor was he part of the energy company. In 2022, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay $51,462,909.66 in restitution to his victims;
- Michael Tolliver was sentenced to 120 months in prison and over $1.1 million in restitution in a PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) scheme. The PPP and EIDL programs were established to assist employers severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic;
- Krystal Glover-Wing was sentenced to 72 months and ordered to pay $3.6 million in restitution after being convicted for conspiracy to commit health care fraud;
- Charged 21 defendants with conspiracy to commit bank fraud in an elder fraud investigation where employees of Teleperformance conspired with others to target elderly USAA bank customers to obtain account information for fraudulent purposes. The investigation is ongoing.
Violent Crime/Terrorism
- In a domestic terrorism investigation, Daniel Aikens was sentenced to 16 years in prison for illegal explosive related charges. In September 2019, Aikens caused an explosion at Cloyd’s Beauty School in Monroe, a Texaco gas station in Alexandria in December 2019 and a Payday Today in Alexandria in January 2020;
- Montrelle Jones was sentenced to 78 months in prison after a Monroe Police Officer foiled an attempt by Jones, who had a pending domestic protective order, to brandish a firearm at a Neville High School basketball game during a fight that took place outside the gym;
- Jeremiah Deare and Sarah Fogle were sentenced to 97 and 60 months respectively for conspiring to deal firearms without a license, making false statements in records required to be kept by a licensed firearms dealer and failing to run required background checks in connection with the unlicensed firearm business. These defendants operated Dave’s Gun Shop of Lafayette. During the investigation, 619 firearms were forfeited;
- Joseph Harrison was sentenced to 216 months, Cody Williams was sentenced to 300 months and Drapper Anthony, Jr. was sentenced to 240 months in prison in a case involving a conspiracy to commit kidnapping devised by members and associates of the All The Money (ATM) Acadiana area street gang. The gang lured an individual from Los Angeles to Lafayette under the guise of executing a multistate narcotics transaction. Once present in Lafayette, the victim was kidnapped and ransom demands were made including $300,000, 100 pounds of marijuana and high-end jewelry;
- Lake Charles Police responded to the home of Jordan Soileau after receiving a report that he had beaten a woman with whom he lived with. Soileau, a convicted felon, had numerous firearms in the home. One of the firearms was as a semi-automatic rifle with a silencer and auto-sear conversion device, allowing it to illegally operate as a machine gun. Soileau was sentenced to 86 months in prison.
Partnerships with Federal, State & Local Law Enforcement/Community Outreach
- Through the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee, this office has trained approximately 1,000 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers across the state of Louisiana annually since U.S. Attorney Brown was confirmed. Also, approximately 50 U.S. Attorney awards have also been granted to federal, state and local law enforcement for exemplary performance in investigations;
- U.S. Attorney Brown, the district’s law enforcement coordinator and numerous Assistant United States Attorneys have participated on law enforcement panels around the country sharing case studies and best practices regarding both federal civil and criminal investigations;
- Convened a Shreveport based community advisory group of 15 members called “Focusing on the Future” that advised U.S. Attorney Brown, on a monthly basis, how the community can assist in civil rights issues and violent crime prevention strategies;
- The District participated in the Shreveport area National Night Out activities with local law enforcement, Paint Your Heart Out and Love the Boot all in conjunction with the City of Shreveport;
- Partnered with the DOJ’s Criminal Rights Division to participate in the department’s Southern Civil Rights Tour in March 2023. Meetings were held with community advocates in Tallulah, LA, students and administration at Grambling State University, Bossier and Caddo Parish students and Shreveport area community advocates;
- Partnered with the DOJ’s Community Relations Service, FBI, Louisiana State University at Shreveport, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Shreveport Police Department, People Acting for Change and Equality (PACE), Louisiana Trans Advocates, Acadiana Queer Collective and Community Advocate to host forums in Lafayette and Shreveport in furtherance of the DOJ’s United Against Hate platform which is an effort to discuss strategies and resources to help prevent LGBTQIA+ hate crimes.
Before becoming United States Attorney in 2021, Brown served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana beginning in November 2012, where he prosecuted a wide range of criminal offenses. In March 2017, U.S. Attorney Brown was appointed as the Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator for the district, charged with coordinating two task forces comprised of federal and state law enforcement agencies with the goal of investigating and prosecuting firearm and high-end violent crime organizations in the WDLA. He left the office in March 2018 to accept a position in private practice and then rejoined the Shreveport Criminal Division in October 2018 as the Shreveport Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) attorney and the district’s Violent Crime Coordinator.
Brown is from Richwood, Louisiana, and a graduate of Ouachita Parish High School in Monroe, LA. He went on to obtain both a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems in 2002, and a Master of Business Administration in 2004 from Louisiana Tech University. Brown received his law degree from Southern University Law Center in 2007 and began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney at the Fourth Judicial District Attorney's Office in Monroe, Louisiana.
Pursuant to the Vacancies Reform Act, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook, a 25 year veteran of the office, will succeed Mr. Brown as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana until a successor is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
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Alexandria Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Machine GunRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Kaelin Williams, 27, of Alexandria, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell for illegal possession of a machine gun, announced U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. Williams was sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release.
Williams was charged in an indictment with one count of illegal possession of a machine gun and he pleaded guilty to the charge on August 21, 2024. On March 1, 2024, a federal search warrant was executed on Williams and his brother’s residence in Alexandria. At the time of the execution of the search warrant, Williams was the sole occupant of the residence and was found with two machine guns, both being Anderson Model AM-15 AR-Type multi-caliber pistols each containing a machine gun conversion device. In addition, law enforcement agents found several additional machine gun conversion devices, often referred to as “Glock switches.” Williams acknowledged to agents that he knew the “Glock switches” were illegal and that they turned a firearm into a machine gun.
The case was investigated by the ATF, Homeland Security Investigations and Alexandria Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren L. Gardner.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
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Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition Sends Two Acadia Parish Men to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that two men from Acadia Parish were sentenced today by United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays on firearms charges.
Tylius Arceneaux, 35, of Lafayette, Louisiana was sentenced to 37 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. On July 7, 2021, Arceneaux was involved in a single vehicle crash in Lafayette. At the time of the crash, he was in possession of a Beretta 9mm semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine loaded with approximately 23 rounds of ammunition. Law enforcement officers learned that Arceneaux had numerous felony convictions which prohibited him from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Arceneaux admitted to illegally possessing the loaded firearm, knowing that he was prohibited from doing so, and pleaded guilty to the charge on September 5, 2024.
The case was investigated by ATF and Lafayette Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren L. Gardner.
Kiari Robinson, 35, of Crowley, Louisiana, was sentenced to 37 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Robinson was charged in an indictment with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and pleaded guilty to the charge on September 4, 2024. On November 11, 2022, narcotics agents working with the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office observed a vehicle run a stop sign and activated the emergency lights in their fully marked vehicle. The driver of the vehicle failed to stop for law enforcement and began to flee traveling at a high rate of speed. The vehicle finally came to a stop and the driver was identified as Robinson. When the deputies approached Robinson’s vehicle, they observed a black Glock handgun with an extended magazine sitting on the driver’s side floorboard. Deputies learned that Robinson was a convicted felon, having been previously convicted of several offenses in Acadia Parish, and they seized the firearm. A subsequent search of Robinson’s cell phone revealed photos of him holding the seized firearm. At his guilty plea, Robinson admitted that he possessed the gun, knowing he was prohibited from doing so.
The case was investigated by ATF and Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.
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