Western District of Louisiana
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Florida Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. –A Florida man was sentenced to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised released for illegally possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Richard Dean Stephenson, 28, of Tampa, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James for one count of possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a felony. According to evidence presented at the April 16, 2014 guilty plea, from September 1, 2013 to October 2, 2013, Stephenson possessed a Bryco .380 caliber pistol and ammunition after having previously been convicted of a felony. After learning that Stephenson may have a weapon, law enforcement officers found the gun and ammunition during a search at his Kilbourne, La., residence. Stephenson has numerous previous felony convictions in Florida including aggravated assault with deadly weapons and grand theft in 2006.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice initiative designed to reduce firearm crimes by removing dangerous and persistent felons from the community and promote firearm safety.
The Oak Grove Police Department, the West Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. prosecuted the case.
Jury Convicts Ville Platte Man of Armed Robbery of St. Landry Parish Convenience StoreRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. –A trial of two Ville Platte men ended with a jury finding one man guilty and a verdict deadlocked for the second man on charges stemming from a robbery of more than $11,000 from a truck stop and a casino in St. Landry Parish, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced.
The trial started on Monday for Ronald James Doomes, 25, and Arinkis Tryvon Orlandeze Jones, 24, both of Ville Platte, La. Both were charged with one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. After a four-day trial, on Thursday, the jury delivered guilty verdicts on both counts against Doomes. The jury deliberated for over five hours. Deliberations on the charges against Jones continued until late Friday morning when they sent a note to the judge declaring they could not reach a unanimous verdict on either count. U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote declared a mistrial on Friday as to defendant Jones. Defendant Jones is scheduled for re-trial on August 25, 2014.
Doomes, Jones and Steven Dudley Nelson, 25, also of Ville Platte, were indicted in a superceding indictment on October 24, 2012, on charges that they took part in an armed robbery on April 8, 2011, at the Tiger Trax Truckstop #7 and Video Joker II Casino located in St. Landry Parish. Nelson pleaded guilty on October 28, 2013, to interference with commerce by robbery and use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The sentencing date for Nelson is currently for August 7, 2014.
Doomes faces 20 years in prison for interference with commerce by robbery and seven years to life in prison for use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He also faces up to five years of supervised release, restitution, forfeiture of the guns used and a $250,000 fine for each count. A sentencing date of November 15, 2014 was set for Doomes.
“This robbery was an act of brutality that placed innocent employees’ and customers’ lives at risk,” Finley stated. “I hope this case serves to dispel the notion that robbery is a quick and easy way to make money. If you commit this crime, you will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a Department of Justice initiative designed to reduce firearm crimes by removing dangerous and persistent felons from the community and promote firearm safety. The PSN attorneys prosecute a variety of federal firearms violations listed in Titles 18 and 26 of the U.S. Code, including illegal possession of firearms and commission of crimes with firearms.
The FBI, ATF and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel prosecuted the case.
Shreveport Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Update His Sex Offender RegistrationRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. –A Shreveport man pleaded guilty on Monday for failing to register his correct address for his sex offender identification, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Michael Thomas Cupp, 60, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty Monday before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, to one count of failure to update his sex offender registration. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, starting in January 2009, Cupp listed his sex offender registration as being in Texas. However, upon investigation, it was determined that Cupp had never lived in the state. Cupp was originally convicted of forcible rape, incest, carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile in State District Court in Baton Rouge in 1992. After completion of his prison sentence, he began living in Shreveport in 1998. Cupp then registered his address in Panola County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office in April of 2009, but after a compliance check of sex offenders in 2012, he was found to have been living and working continuously in Shreveport.
Cupp faces up to 10 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date of November 10, 2014 has been set.
The U.S. Marshal’s Service, Panola County Sheriff’s Office in Texas, and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell is prosecuting the case.
Natchitoches Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Cocaine, Meth DistributionRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – A Natchitoches man was sentenced last week to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his part in a cocaine and methamphetamine distribution operation in parts of northwest and southwest Louisiana, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced.
Michael R. Casson, 38, of Natchitoches, La., was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth E. Foote, for one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and methamphetamine. According to evidence presented at the March, 12, 2014 guilty plea, law enforcement agents investigated Casson as part of a DEA Task Force investigation into cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking in Bossier, Caddo, Natchitoches, and Vernon parishes and the state of Texas in 2012 and 2013. Agents recorded Casson and another suspect discussing drug trafficking on several occasions. Casson later set up a sale of cocaine to the suspect in April of 2013.
Casson was indicted on August 28, 2013, along with Eric Hunter, 43, of Natchitoches; Marquis Williams, 28, and Melvin Bobby Morris Jr., 25, both of Leesville, La.; and Isaiah Golston III, 42, of Shreveport. Golston was sentenced to 21 months in prison on June 12, 2014. Hunter was sentenced to 100 months in prison, and Williams was sentenced to 35 months in prison on June 13, 2014. Morris was sentenced to 20 months in prison on July 23, 2014. They were also sentenced to three years of supervised release.
“My office, along with our federal, state and local partners, is committed to keeping our communities safe and will continue to prosecute those who distribute illegal narcotics,” Finley stated. “I hope those who choose to traffic understand that there are consequences when they pollute our communities with drugs.”
The defendants were prosecuted as part of OCDETF Operation Styrofoam Cookies. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case.The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
Keithville Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Theft of Firearms from WarehouseRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. –A Keithville man was sentenced Thursday to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his part in stealing firearms from a Shreveport warehouse, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
James Minor Jr., 44, of Keithville, La., was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of conspiracy to steal firearms. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on March 13, 2014, Minor conspired with David McNeil, Cameron Johnson, and Luther Williams Jr. to steal 63 Colt M4 Carbine rifles from a shipping warehouse in Shreveport on October 13, 2013. Johnson worked as a guard at the warehouse and allowed Minor and the other defendants inside. More than 55 rounds of ammunition were later found at McNeil’s residence after a search warrant was executed.
For their roles in the case, Williams, 23, of Shreveport, was sentenced on June 30, 2014, to 33 months in prison; Johnson, 22, of Keithville, was sentenced to 37 months in prison; and McNeil, 31, of Keithville, was sentenced to 72 months in prison. They were all ordered to serve three years of supervised release. Minor, Johnson, and Williams were also ordered to pay restitution of $30,062 jointly and severally.This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a Department of Justice initiative designed to reduce firearm crimes by removing dangerous and persistent felons from the community and promote firearm safety. Project Safe Neighborhoods attorneys prosecute a variety of federal firearms violations listed in Titles 18 and 26 of the U.S. Code, including illegal possession of firearms and commission of crimes with firearms.
The ATF, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case.
Department of Justice Celebrates 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights ActRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA/MONROE/LAKE CHARLES, La.:United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley attended a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act at a program hosted by the U.S. Justice Department and Howard University held in Washington, D.C., last week.
Attorney General Eric Holder spoke at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on July 15, 2014, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. The Attorney General gave a short history of the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
The Civil Rights Act was signed into law on July 2, 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, and ended legal segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. It also blazed a trail for subsequent related legislation: the Voting Right Act, the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Fulfilling the promise of Brown vs. Board of Education, the Act authorized the Department of Education to assist with school desegregation and permits the U.S. Attorney General to file lawsuits to desegregate schools. Additionally, the Act prohibits the unequal application of voting requirements, established the Community Relations Service, and gives enhanced authority to the Commission of Civil Rights.
“We know from our history that advances toward equality and inclusion have never been inevitable,” Attorney General Holder said Tuesday. “Every step forward has been hard-won. The words of our founding documents were not automatically imbued with the force of law. And our nation’s future continues to be defined, and its destiny determined, by men and women of both character and conviction; by courageous people who are unafraid to stand up for what they know to be right; and by patriots who never shrink from the responsibility to draw this country ever closer to its highest ideals.”
The speakers and participants at the 50th anniversary program at Howard University honored the strides that have been made in the journey for equal rights and reminded those in attendance of the work that remains to fully realize that promise. In addition to Howard University Interim President Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick and the keynote address by Attorney General Eric Holder, the program included remarks from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez, who lead two of the Department of Justice’s key government partners in enforcing the Civil Rights Act. Ambassador Andrew Young, former leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, also delivered remarks.
The D.C. celebration illuminated the importance of the 50-year class reunion of the Peabody High School Class of 1964 held on July 5, 2014, in Alexandria, La. Finley spoke about the transformational events of the Civil Rights Movement that took place in Louisiana and across the nation in 1963 and 1964.More than 100 people attended the Class’ 50-year reunion banquet, including classmates that visited from as far away as California and New Jersey. The Rev. George Price gave the invocation, and classmate Harold Morrison gave the greeting by telling humorous stories and reminding everyone of the importance of the class to the history of Peabody High School. Classmate and former banker Willis L. Spears who has known Finley since she was a child, introduced her to those gathered for the reunion.
“We were happy to have U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley speak at our 50th class reunion,” reunion chair Lillie Batiste Stewart said. “She brought up highlights of events that took place in the early 1960s while we were in high school and complimented us on still being friends and keeping in touch after 50 years.”
J.B. Lafargue founded Peabody High School in 1895 as the Peabody Industrial School with his wife Sarah C. B. Mayo Lafargue. At the time, it was the only school for black students in Alexandria with grades one to seven. The school was named in honor of the George Peabody Foundation which had awarded a grant to the school. It became a state-approved public school in 1933. Today, Peabody High School is one of two magnet high schools in Rapides Parish. George Peabody was born on February 18, 1795 in Danvers (now Peabody), Massachusetts. In 1867, George Peabody established the Peabody Education Fund, the first education philanthropy in the United States. The purpose of the fund was to help provide education to children of both races in destitute areas of the post-Civil War South.
“The members of this class were on the frontlines of the Civil Rights Movement in the South,” Finley stated. “They graduated high school during a time of great change and struggle. We owe a debt of gratitude to them for the sacrifices they made. Their efforts brought us closer to equality and hope to later generations. I am proud that I was chosen to speak before this distinguished group of men and women.”
In the years since the Act was signed, the struggle to attain the goals contained within has remained. The U.S. Attorney’s Office plays a pivotal role in the administration’s civil rights enforcement priorities. Along with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has jurisdiction to bring cases under the Civil Rights Act and other related federal statutes.
Finley is the first female U.S. Attorney to serve in Louisiana. She was selected by President Barack Obama in January of 2010, after being recommended by U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in June of 2010. United States Attorney Finley was sworn into office on June 2, 2010 to serve the Western District of Louisiana as the chief law enforcement officer for 42 of the state’s 64 parishes.
Lake Charles Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing More Than $250,000 from Her EmployerRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. –A Lake Charles woman pleaded guilty to stealing more than a quarter of a million dollars from her employer, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Kristen Brady, 47, of Lake Charles, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi to one count of bank fraud. According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea, Brady worked for a Lake Charles rental company as a bookkeeper for 12 years before her employment was terminated in November 2013. It was later discovered that she had forged authorizing signatures on more than 200 checks to her benefit in the company’s name, and in the process, received $255,324.04 of which she was not entitled.
“Criminals should know that we will prosecute those who steal from local businesses,” Finley stated. “Brady now will face the consequences of her actions.”
Brady faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, restitution and a $1 million fine. A sentencing date of October 30, 2014 was set.
The U.S. Secret Service and the Lake Charles Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard C. Parker is prosecuting the case.
Investigation Results in 7 Indicted in North Louisiana Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. –A two-year-long undercover investigation has resulted in the seizure of more than $517,000 in cash and seven people being charged for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, firearm violations, and other related drug charges in parishes across north Louisiana, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
A grand jury delivered a 24-count indictment Wednesday against Quincy D. Hoover, 39, and Quwanda L. Forest, 35, both of Natchez, La.; Jesse C. Thomas, 30 of Haynesville, La.; Rodney J. Raymond, 35, of Natchitoches, La.; Shannon D. Jenkins, 34, and Carlos C. Jenkins, 36 both of Ruston, La, and another individual who is at large.
From June 2012 to July 2014, the defendants conspired to distribute cocaine throughout Lincoln, Claiborne, Natchitoches, Sabine, DeSoto, Bossier and Caddo parishes with the source cities for the cocaine being Houston and Dallas. Controlled purchases by law enforcement of cocaine powder and crack cocaine were made from several dealers during the investigation. Federal and local law enforcement officials arrested five of the defendants on July 1, 2014 in the northwest Louisiana area, in which more than a half a million dollars in cash, firearms, 16 pounds of marijuana and other items were seized.
The defendants were arrested as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation code named “Pit Stop.” The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Louisiana State Police, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, Ruston Police Department, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, Natchitoches Police Department, Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bossier City Police Department, Shreveport Police Department, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, all participated in this OCDETF operation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James G. Cowles Jr. and Cytheria Jernigan are prosecuting the case.
"The U.S. Attorney=s Office, along with our federal, state, and local partners, is committed to keeping our communities safe,” Finley stated. “Breaking up this drug distribution ring is a huge step in countering the flow of these illegal substances into the community. I want to thank all the agencies who have partnered with us on this operation and who continue to work to enforce both federal and state narcotics laws."
“The indictments, arrests, and seizures in this investigation are the direct result of outstanding partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement,” stated DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joseph Shepherd. “DEA, along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who threaten our communities through the smuggling and distribution of illegal and dangerous drugs such as cocaine and marijuana. The abuse of these drugs can have devastating health and societal effects, and these arrests strike a significant blow to the illegal drug trafficking trade in this community.”
The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Shreveport Pastor Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Engaging in Sexual Contact with MinorsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. –A Shreveport pastor was sentenced to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release for transporting minors across state lines in order to engage in illegal sexual conduct, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Andrea Lewis, 54, of Shreveport, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote for three counts of transporting minors across state lines to have sex. As a part of his sentencing, he is also required to register as a sex offender. A jury found Lewis guilty on February 28, 2014 after a five-day trial. Witness testimony and exhibits admitted into evidence established that Lewis transported at least three minors to and from Texas to have sex with them. The events happened from 1994 to 2000. Lewis is a Shreveport pastor who formed and actively recruited members of a choir, which consisted of girls mostly under the age of 18 in his congregation. He used his status as pastor and choir director to coerce young female church and, or, choir members to have sex with him. He threatened the girls not to tell anyone, and used choir trips and other church related travel to cover up sexual abuse.
“Unfortunately, this defendant took advantage of his position to abuse young girls in his care and left them with emotional and physical scars that may never heal,” Finley stated. “He has forever altered their lives, and now he must face the consequences of his deplorable actions. The Assistant U.S. Attorney, FBI agents and the Shreveport Police Department officers who worked on this case are to be commended for their hard work and efforts in prosecuting this case. They were instrumental in removing the defendant from the community. He violated not only his oath as a minister, but also the trust of parents and these young children.”
The FBI and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Finley can be reached at (337) 262-6618 for comments.
Monroe Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. –A Monroe resident was sentenced to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for illegal possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Corey Moses, 36, of Monroe, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James, for one count of possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony and one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. According to evidence presented at the November 15, 2013 guilty plea, Sterlington police officers stopped the vehicle Moses was driving for speeding on December 9, 2010. Moses consented to a search of the vehicle, and police found marijuana, two 9 mm pistols and one .380 caliber pistol. The two 9 mm pistols were stolen from another person. Moses had been previously convicted in Monroe of theft in 1996 and burglary in 1997. He was also convicted in October of 2007 in Providence, R.I., of carrying a firearm by a person convicted of a felony.
“Felons carrying weapons is a violation of federal law,” Finley stated. “The defendant’s situation was further complicated by also possessing an illegal substance and had stolen the weapons. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to vigorously prosecute felons who possess firearms while in possession of illegal drugs. Under our Project Safe Neighborhood Program, we have joined with our state and local partners to assure that convicted felons like Moses are identified, arrested and prosecuted. Our goal is to remove convicted felons, violent offenders, drug traffickers and others who carry and use firearms from our streets and neighborhoods. We want to make sure that each citizen feels safe and secure.”
The Sterlington Police Department, West Monroe Police Department, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide program to reduce violence by aggressively enforcing existing federal firearms and explosives laws.
Lafayette Man Charged for Bomb Threat, Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. –A Lafayette man suspected of making a bomb threat in the city of Lafayette has been arrested and charged for the bomb threat and an attempted bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Devin Haywood, 30, of Lafayette, was charged in a federal criminal complaint today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna with one count of using a facility in interstate commerce to willfully make a threat or maliciously convey false information and one count of attempted bank robbery. After the arraignment hearing, he was detained pending trial.
If convicted, the defendant faces 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for the bomb threat charge. He faces 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release for the attempted bank robbery charge. Both charges carry a fine of up to $250,000.
The FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Louisiana State Police, Lafayette Police Department, Lafayette Sheriff’s Office, and the University Louisiana at Lafayette Police Department investigated the case.A complaint is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Fort Polk Soldier Sentenced to 210 Months in Prison for Sexually Abusing MinorsRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. –A former Fort Polk soldier was sentenced Thursday to 210 months in prison and five years of supervised release for sexually abusing a minor under the age of nine, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Emil Roland Rath, 39, of Mena, Ark., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi for one count of abusive sexual contact with a minor under the age of 12. As a part of his sentencing, he is also required to register as a sex offender. According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea on February 20, 2014, Rath admitted that he knowingly engaged in sexual contact with a child under the age of nine on the Fort Polk military base in November of 2003. The defendant, who was in the U.S. Army at the time, was watching an animated movie with the child at the victim’s residence when the abusive contact occurred. In determining the sentence, the court also considered prior convictions and prior conduct involving abuse of other minors by Rath.
“Unfortunately, when these acts occur, the impact is long term and affects the entire family,” Finley stated. “This defendant took advantage of the family’s trust and the child’s innocence to commit this horrendous crime. Children’s safety is a primary concern and a priority of this office. We will continue to prosecute those who abuse minors to the fullest extent of the law.”
The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Myers Namie and Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.
Sulphur Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. –A Sulphur man was sentenced to 180 months in prison and five years of supervised released for possessing multiple firearms illegally, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Todd Allen Booth, 33, of Sulphur, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi for one count of possessing firearms after having been convicted of multiple felonies. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on March 27, 2014, law enforcement officers executed a warrant at Booth’s residence on July 10, 2012, and found eight firearms and ammunition. Of the firearms, three were shotguns, two were rifles and three were handguns. At the sentencing hearing today, the prosecution introduced records showing Booth was previously convicted of three residential burglaries. Booth was convicted of simple burglary in two separate matters in the 14th Judicial District Court in Calcasieu Parish in May of 2003. He was also convicted of burglary in Orange County, Texas, in June of 2001.These three prior convictions subject him to a mandatory jail term of not less than 15 years and not more than life under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a Department of Justice initiative designed to reduce firearm crimes by removing dangerous and persistent felons from the community and promote firearm safety
The ATF, FBI, and the Calcasieu Anti-drug Team investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel prosecuted the case.
Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 94 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing Stolen Motor VehiclesRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. –A Baton Rouge man was sentenced to 94 months in prison and three years of supervised release for using multiple false identities to steal an RV, boat and sport utility vehicle, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Charles K. Smith, 60, of Baton Rouge, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to pay $91,208 in restitution. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on February 3, 2014, Smith paid for a Winnebago from a Picayune, Miss., business using a fraudulent check for $189,500 under the alias Anthony J. Barnes on February 15, 2010. On May 10, 2010, Smith purchased a SeaPro boat from a Henderson, La., business using a fraudulent check for $26,975 under the alias Randal Bass. He also bought a GMC Terrain from a Bossier City business using a fraudulent check for $25,286 under the alias William Rayford Johnson on April 6, 2011.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.
Homer Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing More Than $59,000 from EmployerRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. –A Homer man pleaded guilty to stealing more than $59,000 from his Claiborne Parish employer’s bank account, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
John Bob Jr., 46, of Homer, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea, the defendant used his employer’s debit card and personal identification number to make approximately 200 withdrawals totaling $59,602 from May 2012 to July 2013 from banks across northwest Louisiana.
Bob faces a maximum penalty of 32 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. A sentencing date of November 13, 2014 was set.
The FBI and Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg is prosecuting the case.
Homer Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing More Than $59,000 from EmployerRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. –A Homer man pleaded guilty to stealing more than $59,000 from his Claiborne Parish employer’s bank account, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
John Bob Jr., 46, of Homer, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea, the defendant used his employer’s debit card and personal identification number to make approximately 200 withdrawals totaling $59,602 from May 2012 to July 2013 from banks across northwest Louisiana.
Bob faces a maximum penalty of 32 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. A sentencing date of November 13, 2014 was set.
The FBI and Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg is prosecuting the case.Texas Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Attempting to Entice A Minor to Have SexRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. –A Texas man was sentenced to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release for contacting a 14-year-old girl in order to start a sexual relationship, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Elton Ray Jones, 67, of Zavalla, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote for one of count attempting to entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. He was found guilty after a two-day jury trial that ended on March 12, 2014. Based on witness testimony and documents admitted into evidence, it was shown that from September 11, 2012 to October 17, 2012, Jones made contact and conducted online chats with a law enforcement officer posing as a 14-year-old girl. Jones engaged in explicit conversations and planned a sexual encounter. Law enforcement officers arrested Jones on October 17, 2012 in Lafayette where Jones had planned to meet the girl.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice launched 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 (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) DHS-2ICE. Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp. Tips may be submitted anonymously.The Louisiana State Police and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Myers P. Namie and John Luke Walker prosecuted the case.
Warehouse Manager Sentenced for Conspiring to Steal $900,000 Worth of Merchandise in Return for CashRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. –A former warehouse manager was sentenced to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release for stealing more than $900,000 worth of aircraft parts in return for cash, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Robert Michal Styron, 38, of Iowa, La., was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to pay restitution of $930,401. Styron pleaded guilty on July 11, 2013 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Styron used his position as warehouse manager of Aeroframe Services LLC in Lake Charles to steal merchandise and sell it to another party. He took part in the conspiracy from February 26, 2007 to June 10, 2009. Aeroframe was a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)/European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified Part 145 repair station and maintenance repair operations business.
The U.S. Secret Service and the Lake Charles Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard A. Willis and Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.
Shreveport Man Sentenced to 264 Months in Prison for Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. –A Shreveport man was sentenced to 264 months in prison and eight years of supervised release for his role in a Shreveport cocaine distribution conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Quacy L. Francis, 38, of Shreveport was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter for one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base. According to evidence presented at the guilty pleas in January 2014, Francis and others conspired to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base in the Shreveport area from November 2012 to May 2013. The FBI conducted three controlled purchases of cocaine, both crack and powder, from Francis. Francis purchased cocaine from Michael T. Johnson, 40, of Shreveport, and others to be distributed in the Shreveport area. Lemarcus Miller, 32, and Demarkus Miller, 32, both from Shreveport, were also part of the conspiracy.
Demarkus Miller and Lemarcus Miller were each sentenced to 60 months in prison and four years of supervised release on March 27, 2014 and May 16, 2014 respectively. Johnson was sentenced to 120 months in prison and eight years of supervised release on April 28, 2014.
This case is part of an investigation called Operation Dry Cedar conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint multi-agency group consisting of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies with a cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking. Operation Dry Cedar was a jointly conducted investigation by the FBI’s Northwest Louisiana Violent Crimes Task Force, DEA, Bossier City Police Department, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell prosecuted the case.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison on Firearms and Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. –A Mexican national was sentenced to 63 months in prison for possessing a firearm, possessing marijuana with intent to distribute, and illegally reentering the country, U.S.Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Jose Luis Ariciaga-Banda, 28, of Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter for one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien, one count of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, and one of count illegal reentry into the United States after deportation. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on March 18, 2014, Louisiana State Troopers stopped the truck Ariciaga-Banda was driving on Mansfield Road in Shreveport for a traffic violation on August 7, 2013. He was found to be a Mexican citizen and illegally in the United States. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent arrived at the scene and placed him under arrest. A search warrant was also obtained and executed, and a 9 mm pistol, ammunition, money and approximately 18 pounds of marijuana were found at Ariciaga-Banda’s residence.
The defendant was previously convicted in September of 2008 for possession of cocaine in Caddo Parish District Court. In November of 2010, he was convicted in federal court of two counts of possession of a firearm by an alien illegally in the United States and a count of illegal reentry after his deportation from the United States.
After Ariciaga-Banda was sentenced for his most recent crimes, a hearing was held and his supervised release from his 2010 convictions was revoked by Judge Walter. Ariciaga-Banda was sentenced to 24 month in prison, 12 months of which will be served consecutively. Ariciaga-Banda’s total term of imprisonment is 75 months.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Louisiana State Police, the Caddo Parish Sheriff-Shreveport Police Drug Task Force, and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide program designed to reduce violence by aggressively enforcing existing federal firearms laws.
Haughton Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Distributing Illegal Drugs and for Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – A Haughton man was sentenced to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release for a firearms charge and for selling cocaine and methamphetamine with his girlfriend and mother, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Deshun J. McNeely, 33, of Haughton, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter to 60 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine and 60 months in prison for one count of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on October 24, 2013, McNeely, his girlfriend Marenda Smith, and his mother Brenda White, conspired to sell cocaine and methamphetamine in northeast Louisiana from 2012 to 2013. On May 7, 2013, agents executed a search warrant at McNeely and Smith’s home. Powder cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, four firearms and $9,000 were seized. Agents also seized $36,000 found in a storage unit McNeely and Smith rented.
Smith was sentenced to 30 months in prison and White 24 months in prison on May 22, 2014. They were also each ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
The defendants were prosecuted as part of OCDETF Operation Styrofoam Cookies. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case.
Carthage, Texas, Resident Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Enticing an Underage Girl to Have SexRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – A Carthage, Texas, man was sentenced to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release for attempting to have sex with an underage girl, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Sammy D. Mosley, 39, of Carthage, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. for one count of attempting to entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on March 13, 2014, Mosley responded to an online advertisement July 24, 2013 soliciting a mother and daughter for sex. Mosley began to correspond with a law enforcement officer posing as a 13-year-old girl. Mosley negotiated prices for sex and asked for nude pictures. He was arrested on August 1, 2013 at a meeting place in Bossier City, La., where he had agreed to meet the girl and her mother.
The FBI and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case. 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 marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Those concerned may leave tips with the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Tips may be submitted anonymously. The Shreveport FBI office number is (318) 861-1890.
West Monroe Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. –A West Monroe man was sentenced to 120 months in prison and to five years of supervised release for possessing more than 50 images of child pornography on his home computers, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
David Wayne Greer, 42, of West Monroe, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James for one count of possession of child pornography. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on February 18, 2014, the state of Louisiana’s Attorney General’s Office High Technology Crime Unit detected child pornography being downloaded to a computer in West Monroe in March of 2013. Later that same month, agents searched the home where Greer was residing. Computers from the home were searched and 50 images of child pornography were found. The pornography was of adults sexually abusing pre-pubescent children. Some of the children in the images were as young as one year.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana Attorney Generals’ Office High Technology Crime Unit and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) DHS-2ICE. Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice 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 (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.Former East Carroll Parish Sheriff Sentenced to Three Years ProbationRead the Press Release
MONROE, La. – The former sheriff of East Carroll Parish was sentenced to three years of probation for hunting with a convicted felon who was sentenced prior to 2014 and barred from possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Former East Carroll Parish Sheriff Mark Wayne Shumate, 52, of Lake Providence, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert G. James for one count aiding and abetting a felon in the possession of a firearm. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, on April 1, 2014, Shumate and the convicted felon went hunting on January 8, 2014. Shumate had full knowledge that the person accompanying him was barred from possessing and firing a firearm.
The FBI and ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph G. Jarzabek prosecuted the case.
Shreveport Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing from ATMRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. –A Shreveport man pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing more than $30,000 from an ATM located on bank property causing more than $35,000 worth of damage in the process, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Frederick Charles Davis, 46, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to one count of bank theft. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Davis broke open an automated teller machine (ATM) on July 13, 2012 located at the end of a drive-through lane at a Richland State Bank in Minden, La., and stole $30,320. He used a power tool and a chain attached to the back of his truck to open the ATM, which caused $35,242 in damage.
Davis faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, forfeiture and restitution. An October 2, 2014 sentencing date was set.The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison D. Bushnell is prosecuting the case.
Opelousas Man Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. –An Opelousas man pleaded guilty to concealing his bail bonds business income during bankruptcy proceedings, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Kirby L. Daigle, 67, of Opelousas, La., entered a conditional guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Michael Hill to one count of making a false statement under penalty of perjury during bankruptcy proceedings. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Daigle filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on December 22, 2009. On bankruptcy documents, under the section for income, he wrote “unemployed,” and under the section for income from operating a business, he wrote “none”. The incomes he did list were veteran’s benefits and Social Security disability payments. Daigle in fact owned a bail bonds business, and he wrote bonds and collected commissions on those bonds at the time he filed bankruptcy. He also used sub-producers to write bonds under his bonding license, and he was paid a fee when a sub-producer wrote a bond.
Daigle faces a maximum of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Daigle’s sentencing was set for September 19, 2014.
The Social Security Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert C. Abendroth and Myers P. Namie are prosecuting the case.
Ragley Man Pleads Guilty to Part in Robbery at Coushatta Tribal ReservationRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. –The last defendant in a group that conducted an armed home invasion on the Coushatta Tribal Reservation pleaded guilty, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Floyd Marshall Martine, 35, of Ragley, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi to one count of the crime of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a federal crime of violence.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, the defendant along with John Harold Materne, Chanten Keith L. Gauthreaux, Trevor James Simon, and another suspect traveled on December 3, 2013, in a van to the home of an acquaintance located on property belonging to the Coushatta Indian Tribe near Elton, La., in order to steal illegal drugs. Simon drove the vehicle. With Materne carrying a shotgun, he and Martine entered the home. While they were robbing the inhabitants, Gauthreaux entered the trailer and helped take pills and marijuana. The group was arrested while fleeing in the van. Materne and two of the victims are Native American Indians and members of the Coushatta Tribe.
Martine faces seven years to life in prison and a maximum of five years of supervised release. Simon, Gauthreaux, and Materne pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count of robbery in Indian Country, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and three years of supervised release. Materne also pleaded guilty to one count of the crime of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a federal crime of violence. They also all face a maximum fine of $250,000 and forfeiture of the weapons used in the robbery. A sentencing date of September 18, 2014 was set for Martine. Simon is scheduled to be sentenced October 30, 2014; Gauthreaux is to be sentenced September 11, 2014; and Materne is to be sentenced September 4, 2014.
Jurisdiction in Indian Country is based upon the unique sovereign relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes. Congress has extended the territorial jurisdiction of the United States to major crimes committed against Native Americans that take place in Indian Country, which includes all property that the government holds in trust or use by officially recognized Native American tribes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes all major crimes and misdemeanor cases arising in Indian Country that are within the jurisdiction of this office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes cases arising in Indian Country involving felonies where either the defendant or the victim is an Indian or both the defendant and the victim are Indian. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also prosecutes cases involving misdemeanors where the defendant is a non-Indian.
The Coushatta Tribal Police Department, FBI, and ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel is prosecuting the case.
Iberia Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Traveling to North Carolina to Have Sex with MinorRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – A New Iberia man pleaded guilty to traveling to North Carolina in order to have sex with a minor, U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today.
Ray Paul Dionne, 55, of New Iberia, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik, to one count of travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Dionne admitted that he traveled to North Carolina on two occasions in June and August of 2012 to engage in sexual contact with a minor under the age of 12. On August 27, 2012, when law enforcement learned that Dionne was staying at a North Carolina residence, they entered the residence and discovered Dionne lying in bed with the child.
Dionne faces five to 30 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been set.
The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Boiling Point Springs Police Department, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker is prosecuting the case.
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 marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Shreveport Men Sentenced for Robbing Businesses in Louisiana and Texas at GunpointRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Myles W. Robinson, 21, and Halston M. Smith, 22, both of Shreveport, were sentenced to 314 years in prison and 138 years in prison, respectively, by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote for their participation in a string of armed robberies in Louisiana and Texas. The defendants were also ordered to pay $17,681.31 and $8,033.31 in restitution, respectively.
After a four-day trial that ended on January 16, 2014, Robinson was found guilty of all 27 counts of the indictment, and Smith was found guilty of 13 counts. According to testimony and evidence presented at the trial, the robberies took place between June 1, 2012, and November 14, 2012, at 15 businesses in Louisiana and Texas, with the men stealing in excess of $20,000. In some instances, money was taken from employees and patrons. In most of the robberies, a firearm or firearms were brandished. In at least one robbery, a firearm was discharged into the ceiling of a business in Caddo Parish. Businesses were robbed in Shreveport, Bossier City, Stonewall, Oil City, and Atlanta, Texas. In addition to Robinson and Smith, two other defendants, James D. Tyson, 22, and Tremario D. Washington, 24, took part in the robberies.
Washington pleaded guilty on June 6, 2013, and Tyson pleaded guilty on July 1, 2013, to one count of conspiracy and one count of using firearms during a crime of violence. On February 5, 2014, Tyson was sentenced to 111 months in prison and Washington was sentenced to 108 months in prison. They both received three years supervised release.
“Over many months, the men involved in these robberies terrorized employees and customers of the businesses targeted, and now they must face the consequences of their destructive and violent activity,” stated Finley. “This case demonstrates how effectively area law enforcement agencies can work together to bring criminals to justice. I want to thank all of the agents and prosecutors for their hard work on this case.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Shreveport Police Department, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bossier City Police Department, and the Atlanta, Texas Police Department took part in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James G. Cowles Jr., and Seth D. Reeg prosecuted the case.
Lafayette Tax Preparer Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Preparing False ReturnsRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Lutricia S. Feast, 52, of Youngsville, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Foote to 24 months in prison and one year of supervised release for preparing false tax returns for herself and for her clients. The Judge also ordered Feast to pay $382,582 in restitution.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on November 25, 2013, Feast was a tax preparer in Lafayette Parish from 2001 to 2009. From 2006 to 2009, Feast admitted to only reporting a fraction of her income to the IRS. In one instance on her 2008 tax return, she reported her income as $14,400, when she actually earned $280,170. The defendant admitted during the guilty plea that between 2006 and 2009, her actual income was $830,986. She also admitted that she owes $287,860 in unpaid taxes. Feast filed false information on 22 tax returns in 2009 in order to provide her clients with refunds to which they were not entitled. She listed losses on tax forms in Schedule C, profit or loss from a business, for her clients, but when interviewed, clients said they had no businesses from which to lose money. The false returns caused the IRS to issue $96,915 in refunds that were not owed.“Tax preparers who file fraudulent tax returns by adding fictitious expenses, false deductions and unallowable credits to a taxpayer’s return are taking advantage of the system,” Finley stated. “Preparing false tax returns is a serious crime - anyone who chooses to willfully aid or assist in the preparing or filing of false tax returns, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. My office stands ready to assist the IRS during their investigation and will hold these tax preparers accountable for receiving tax credits that they are not entitled to receive.”
“Prior to pleading guilty, Lutricia Feast worked as an income tax preparer where she held herself out to be an expert in the field of tax preparation,” stated Gabriel L. Grchan, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigations, New Orleans Field Office. “She manipulated the income and expenses of unsuspecting clients in order to increase their refund. By doing this, Feast was able to generate a larger clientele thus increasing her income — income that she failed to report on her own personal income tax return. Both of these actions are criminal offenses. It is very important that taxpayers do not shop tax preparers for the highest refund, but instead, find a preparer with a sound reputation that will prepare an accurate tax return. When you sign your tax return you are agreeing, under penalty of perjury, that the return is correct.”
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS’s Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2014. Visit www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/Choosing-a-Tax-Professional for more information. In the past decade, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department website.
The IRS conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. McManus prosecuted the case.Former Lafayette/Opelousas Housing Authority Director Sentenced to 28 Months in Prison for Bribery and Bid Corruption ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Walter O. Guillory, 51, of Lafayette, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Foote, to 28 months in prison and one year of supervised release for receiving bribes while running two housing authorities in the Acadiana area and also for his part in a conspiracy to award bids to a preferred contractor in Opelousas.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on February 14, 2014, Guillory served as the Executive Director of the Lafayette Housing Authority (LHA) from June 1998 to October 2010, and he served as Executive Director of the Opelousas Housing Authority (OHA) from November 2005 to November 2010. During this time period, Guillory sponsored a local baseball team. He solicited donations from various vendors and contractors of both the LHA and the OHA for “his baseball team.” From 2006 to 2010, the vendors were expected to make yearly donations in exchange for doing business with the housing authorities. Some of the contributions were spent on personal expenses and not for the baseball team. He solicited and received more than $100,000 in bribes from the vendors between 2006 and 2010.
Guillory also admitted to conspiring with others to circumvent bid laws in order to award construction contracts to one company who performed construction work for OHA. They used the fake bids to make it appear that several companies were placing bids on construction projects, but in fact, there was only one company being considered. In addition, they used interstate wire communication facilities including email transmissions for a variety of purposes, which involved sending and receiving emails related to contracts and false bids. Guillory approved these contracts with full knowledge that the bid rules, laws and regulations were not being followed from 2007 to 2009.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly P. Uebinger prosecuted the case.
Texas Man Sentenced, Another Pleads Guilty to Roles in Vehicle Theft RingRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Vincent L. Simmons, 48, of Porter, Texas, was sentenced and Carey Dale Reed, 40, of Conroe, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik for participating in a scheme to steal tractors in Texas and sell them in Louisiana. Simmons was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea hearings, from December 2010 to October 2011, Simmons conspired with Reed to steal a John Deer mower, a CASE Skidster front end loader, and a Kubota KX 61 Mini-Excavator. They then sold the machinery to Katherine and Ronnie Larocca of Calcasieu Parish, who were also part of the scheme.
Reed faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count. A sentencing date was not set.
The Louisiana State Police and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. McManus is prosecuting the case.
Kinder Man Pleads Guilty to Part in Robbery at Coushatta Tribal ReservationRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Chanten Keth L. Gauthreaux, 20, of Kinder, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi to participating in a home invasion at the Coushatta Tribal Reservation.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, the defendant along with John Harold Materne, Trevor James Simon, Floyd H. Martine, and another suspect traveled on December 3, 2013, in a van to the home of an acquaintance located on property belonging to the Coushatta Indian Tribe near Elton, La., in order to steal illegal drugs. Simon drove the vehicle. With Materne carrying a shotgun, he and Martine entered the home. While they were robbing the inhabitants, Gauthreaux entered the trailer and helped take pills and marijuana. The group was arrested while fleeing the scene in the van. Materne and two of the victims are Native American Indians and members of the Coushatta Tribe.
Gauthreaux faces up to 15 years in prison, three years supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for one count of robbery in Indian Country. On Wednesday, June 4, 2014, Materne, 22, of Ragley, La., pleaded guilty to one count of robbery in Indian Country and also pleaded guilty to one count of brandishing a firearm, which carries penalties of seven years to life in prison, five years supervised release, forfeiture, and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date of September 4, 2014 was set for Materne and September 11, 2014 for Gauthreaux.
Jurisdiction in Indian Country is based upon the unique sovereign relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes. Congress has extended the territorial jurisdiction of the United States to major crimes committed against Native Americans that take place in Indian Country, which includes all property that the government holds in trust or use by officially recognized Native American tribes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes all major crimes and misdemeanor cases arising in Indian Country that are within the jurisdiction of this office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes cases arising in Indian Country involving felonies where either the defendant or the victim is an Indian or both the defendant and the victim are Indian. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also prosecutes cases involving misdemeanors where the defendant is a non-Indian.
The Coushatta Tribal Police Department, FBI, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel is prosecuting the case.
United States Attorney Stephanie Finley Speaks to Abbeville Rotary Club MembersRead the Press Release
ABBEVILLE, La.–United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley was the guest speaker today at Abbeville Rotary Club’s weekly meeting held at the Abbeville Country Club where she spoke to members about the role of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“I share the values of community involvement and education with the Abbeville Rotary Club,” Finley said. “It is always a priority to speak and share information about what we do at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. I appreciate that the Abbeville Rotary Club invited me to come and spend this time with them and commend them for being strong leaders in the community.”
The 1.2 million-member Rotary International organization started with the vision of Paul P. Harris. The Chicago attorney formed one of the world’s first service organizations, the Rotary Club of Chicago, on February 23, 1905 as a place where professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of each member.
The Abbeville Rotary Club is composed of community members of diverse backgrounds who contribute to the community by providing donations, labor and other resources to local organizations and projects. Club members meet once a week at the Abbeville Country Club to share knowledge, socialize, plan events, and learn more about their community. The current club officers are President, Dr. Lance Savoie, a local dentist; Secretary Pamela Trahan, a tax preparer; and Treasurer Mason Romero, a pharmacist. To learn more about the Abbeville Rotary Club, please visit www.rcabbeville.org.
Finley is the first female U.S. Attorney to serve in Louisiana. She was selected by President Barack Obama in January of 2010, after being recommended by U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu. Finley was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 28, 2010, and sworn into office on June 2, 2010 to serve the Western District of Louisiana as the chief law enforcement officer for 42 of the state’s 64 parishes. In addition to her duties as the U.S. Attorney, Finley is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, and currently serves as Vice Chair of Attorney General Eric Holder’s Advisory Committee’s Office of Management and Budget Committee.
Shreveport Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that Mickey Williams, 35, of Shreveport, La., pleaded guilty on Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Foote, to possessing child pornography.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, law enforcement agents discovered Williams was downloading child pornography using an internet image board. Agents searched Williams’ home on January 28, 2012. After searching the electronic devices and computers found in the home, approximately 150 images of child pornography and one video were found. Some of the images contained prepubescent child pornography and bestiality.
Williams faces up to 10 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine for one count of possessing child pornography. He also faces forfeiture of the devices used in the crime. A sentencing date of September 25, 2014 was set.Immigrations and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell is prosecuting the case. 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 marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) DHS-2ICE. Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp. Tips may be reported anonymously.
Chataignier Man Sentenced to 135 Months in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that Ricky Johnson, 53, of Chataignier, La., was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik, to 135 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for possession of child pornography. He was also ordered to forfeit the devices used in the crime.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on February 5, 2014, the investigation revealed that Johnson was downloading child pornography from a file sharing network online in early 2010. In September of 2010, Johnson’s computer and other electronic devices were searched, and images and videos of child pornography were found. Johnson has a prior conviction for molestation of a juvenile.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case. 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 marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Those concerned may also leave tips with the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Tips may be submitted anonymously. The Lafayette FBI office number is (337) 233-2164.
Lake Charles Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that Shannon Ray Smithers, 33, of Lake Charles, was sentenced on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi, to 120 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for possessing child pornography. He is also required to register as a sex offender.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on January 16, 2014, the defendant admitted to possessing child pornography. Homeland Security Investigations’ agents became aware of Smithers’ possession of child pornography through an undercover operation. Smithers admitted to agents that he had previously possessed child pornography on his computer as far back as February 26, 2013, but later erased it.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana State Police, and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. McManus prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) DHS-2ICE. Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.
Colfax Treating Company Pleads Guilty to Charge of Negligent Discharge of Waste into Pineville Sewer SystemRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Colfax Treating Company, LLC pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, to one count of negligent discharge of waste materials in violation of its daily limit permit. Company representative, Johnathan Martin, pleaded guilty on the company’s behalf at the hearing.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Colfax Treating Company, a wood treating facility in Pineville, La., negligently discharged pentachlorophenol on June 13, 2008, into Pineville’s sewer system, which leads to the publicly-owned water treatment works. The company discharged 7.1 milligrams per liter of the chemical in violation of the Clean Water Act. The permitted discharge amount is 5.64 milligrams per liter, which is a difference of 1.46 milligrams per liter. Pentachlorophenol is used in the company’s wood treating process.The minimum fine for the illegal discharge from the company’s property is $2,500 per day of violation, with a maximum fine of $25,000 per day of violation. Sentencing is set for August 1, 2014.
“Our environment matters, “Finley stated. “My office will continue to hold accountable those who pollute our air, land and water. Companies and their employees cannot participate in dangerous activities that place the general public in harm’s way. Hopefully this case serves as a deterrent to those who would ignore the environmental laws of this nation and state.”
“The people of Pineville, like other communities, expect a sewage treatment system that is reliable and safe,” said Ivan Vikin, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Louisiana. “When companies violate pre-treatment rules, improperly discharged waste can sicken people, injure wildlife, and damage expensive equipment. Today’s plea demonstrates that companies will be held responsible for environmental crimes that endanger communities.”
“Pre-treatment programs are in place throughout many of the cities in Louisiana,” said Louisiana DEQ Secretary Peggy Hatch. “These programs place limits on the types and amounts of pollutants that businesses can safely discharge to the city sewers. Negligently violating pre-treatment limits is a serious issue, and we will continue to work with our federal partners at EPA CID to address and prosecute these types of crimes.”
The criminal investigation divisions of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, along with the FBI, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph G. Jarzabek prosecuted the case.
Serial Bankruptcy Filer Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Lying During Bankruptcy ProceedingsRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Shelley R. Callahan, 49, of Clinton, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald Walter to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release for making a false statement during a bankruptcy proceeding. She was also ordered to pay $21,990 in restitution.
After a three-day trial that ended on February 14, 2013, witness testimony and exhibits admitted into evidence established that Callahan filed for bankruptcy protection on August 26, 2010, her eighth bankruptcy filing in nine years. Callahan falsely stated that she had not given any gifts or made any payments to family members prior to filing for bankruptcy protection. In truth, Callahan received more than $55,000 for a personal injury claim eight months before her latest bankruptcy filing. Instead of paying her creditors, she provided gifts during the Christmas season and gambling trips to casinos to her family.
The U.S. Trustee’s Office and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cytheria Jernigan prosecuted the case.Leesville Man Sentenced to 240 Months in Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Elliot R. Duke, 30, of Leesville, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi, to 240 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for receiving child pornography.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on January 23, 2014, after receiving information that child pornography was on Duke’s computer, law enforcement personnel searched Duke’s residence on May 14, 2013. The search revealed there was child pornography on his laptop, and upon further investigation, agents also discovered that Duke had been discussing and trading child pornography with other persons through email. A forensic examination of Duke’s laptop was conducted and revealed approximately 168 videos and 187 still images of child pornography.
Homeland Security Investigations, Louisiana State Police, and the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) DHS-2ICE. Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.
Lafayette Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute ChargeRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Calvin James Catalon Jr., 35, of Lafayette, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi, to charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, a Lake Charles police officer stopped the defendant’s vehicle for a traffic violation on January 17, 2014 on I-10. After questioning Catalon, the officer conducted a search of the vehicle. A bag containing white powder was found. The powder was tested at a Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory in Dallas and was identified as cocaine with a net weight of approximately 991.8 grams.
Catalon faces five to 40 years in prison, four years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine for one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. A sentencing date of August 28, 2014 was set.
The FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Lake Charles Police Department and the Calcasieu Anti-drug Team conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel is prosecuting the case.
Jennings Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Importing and Distributing Anabolic SteroidsRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Christopher Paul Benoit, 34, of Jennings, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring to unlawfully import and possess with the intent to distribute anabolic steroids. He was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on January 20, 2014, Benoit conspired with others to import and distribute anabolic steroids from January 2007 to June 2012 using the U.S. mail. Benoit ordered the steroids online and paid for the drugs using money wires or debit cards to foreign accounts. The indictment lists five such orders delivered from China to Jennings from January 2011 to February 2012. Benoit and his co-conspirators would then take the powdered steroids from the packages, liquefy them, and place them into vials for sale. One of the co-conspirators, Regan Chase Benoit, 26, also of Jennings and Christopher Benoit’s first cousin, approached Christopher Benoit in 2010 to purchase steroids. Regan Benoit admitted he later assisted his cousin in liquefying the powder steroids for distribution. Regan Benoit pleaded guilty to steroid importation, possession, and distribution charges on September 5, 2013.
Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Jennings Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett L. Grayson prosecuted the case.
Bossier City Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Production and Sale of Counterfeit U.S. MoneyRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Corey Crosby, 23, of Bossier City, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter, to 18 months in prison for making and selling counterfeit Federal Reserve notes.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on February 21, 2014, Crosby was identified as the seller and manufacturer of counterfeit money in the Shreveport/Bossier City area in June of 2013. He sold the counterfeit money and uncut sheets of counterfeit money in denominations of $100, $20, and $10. Investigators matched Crosby’s fingerprints to a printer used to manufacture the counterfeit notes. Crosby was previously convicted on state charges in Caddo Parish for forgery in November of 2012.
The U.S. Secret Service - Shreveport Office, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Shreveport Police Department, and Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown prosecuted the case.
Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Update His Sex Offender RegistrationRead the Press Release
SHREVEPORT, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that John Mark Phillips, 50, of Springfield, Mo., pleaded guilty Monday before U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, for failing to update his sex offender registration.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Phillips was convicted in Christian County Missouri on September 22, 1995, for sexual abuse of a victim under the age of 14. In 2011, he failed to register as a sex offender and was given an 18-month federal sentence for the offense. On May 2, 2013, U.S. Probation Officers in Missouri transmitted a notice that Phillips had left his Springfield, Mo., residence. On May 3, 2013, a warrant was issued for Phillips’ arrest, and Shreveport police arrested him later that same day.Phillips faces up to 10 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for one count of failure to update sex offender registration. A sentencing date of September 10, 2014 has been set.
The U.S. Marshals Service, Western District of Missouri U.S. Office of Probation, and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth D. Reeg is prosecuting the case.
Scott Man Sentenced for Making False Statements to Social Security Administration in Oder to Steal BenefitsRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that William Joseph Folse, Jr., 51, of Scott, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Foote, to 12 months in prison and three years of supervised release for making false statements to the Social Security Administration (SSA) concerning his disability status in order to fraudulently receive nearly $200,000 in benefits. He was also ordered to pay $199,007.80 in restitution to the SSA.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on January 22, 2014, Folse applied for and was granted benefits for total disability in the 1990s for a slip and fall accident. He also signed paperwork acknowledging that he would report his change in job status should he return to work. Investigators later determined that Folse worked at a restaurant in Lafayette since 1998 and earned more than $12,000 per year plus tips. It is estimated that he improperly received $199,007.80 from the SSA.
The SSA conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard C. Parker prosecuted the case.Erath Woman Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Hue Bui, 27, of Erath, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Foote, to 12 months in prison and two years of supervised release for one count of wire fraud involving theft from Walk-On’s Bistreaux and Bar in Lafayette. Bui was also ordered to pay $30,222.12 in restitution to Walk-On’s.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on January 22, 2014, while employed as a server at Walk-On’s, Bui stole approximately $30,222 from February 2012 to August 2012. She devised a scheme using $25 pre-paid American Express, VISA, and Master Card gift cards that she bought herself. During her shift, she would create a fake food or beverage order costing approximately $25, pay for the fake order with the gift card, write in a gratuity amount on the bill, and collect the tips at the end of her shift. When the credit card companies realized the $25 limit was exceeded, they charged the transactions back to Walk-On’s.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly P. Uebinger prosecuted the case.New York Man Pleads Guilty to Part in Scheme to Use Counterfeit Access Devices to Steal from CasinosRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Benfen Zhang, 43, of Flushing, N.Y., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to conspiracy to use counterfeit access devices to receive cash advances from Louisiana casinos.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Zhang and three Chinese nationals obtained cash advances using unauthorized access devices from November 2012 to September 2013. Zhang drove his co-conspirators to casinos and provided the counterfeit access devices. The co-conspirators would then get cash advances from the casinos, gamble briefly, and then move to the next casino. The total amount of loss to the casinos is believed to be $103,624.81. Illegal cash advances were obtained from the Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, L=Auberge Casino in Lake Charles, El Dorado Casino in Shreveport, and Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City.Zhang faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and restitution for one count of conspiracy to possess more than 15 counterfeit or unauthorized access devices.
The Federal Reserve defines an access device as a card, code or other means of access to a consumer’s account or a combination of these used by the consumer to initiate Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT). Access devices include debit cards, personal identification numbers (PINs), telephone transfer and telephone bill payment codes, and other means to initiate EFT or to form a consumer account.
The U.S. Secret Service and the Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard C. Parker is prosecuting the case.
New Iberia Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Update His Sex Offender RegistrationRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Rodger Dale Seilhan, 63, of New Iberia, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to charges that he failed to update his sex offender registration.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, after failing to report his whereabouts to authorities for two years, the U.S. Marshals Service and other law enforcement agencies located Seilhan in New Iberia at a relative’s residence. He was arrested on March 11, 2014. The Travis County Sheriff’s Office in Texas arrested Seilhan on January 21, 1982 for aggravated sexual assault of a child, and he was later sentenced to 15 years in prison. After being released from prison, Seilhan reported residence changes to authorities while he lived in Texas until September 5, 2012. He was found to not be living at his last known address in Willis, Texas, after a sex offender verification check was conducted.Seilhan faces up to 10 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for one count of failure to update sex offender registration. A sentencing date was not set.
The U.S. Marshals Service, Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana State Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. McManus is prosecuting the case.
Lafayette Business Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Scheme That Cost Investors MillionsRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Herbert S. “Steve” Fouke, 55, of Lafayette, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit securities fraud, investment adviser fraud, wire fraud and mail fraud, involving an investment scheme that cost investors $8 million. He was also ordered to pay $6,380,808.03 restitution to victims of the scheme.
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on September 6, 2013, Fouke became a client of Richard Buswell and Bowman Investment Group LLC, which was also Buswell’s company. Fouke later became president of the company and recruited friends and business associates to become clients of Bowman Investment Group. Fouke admitted to being present at meetings between Buswell and his clients, during which Buswell made false statements to the clients about his credentials, his commissions, and the rates of return that he guaranteed the clients would receive. Buswell admitted in a guilty plea July 24, 2013 to engaging in frequent and excessive stock trades in order to earn commissions.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly P. Uebinger and Howard C. Parker prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana Remembers Fallen Law Enforcement Officers During National Police Week 2014Read the Press Release
SHREVEPORT/LAFAYETTE/ALEXANDRIA/LAKE CHARLES/MONROE, La. Communities across the United States are coming together during National Police Week - May 11th through May 17th - to honor and remember those law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members, friends and fellow officers they left behind.
“Law enforcement officers face the monumental challenge of protecting and serving the public every day,” stated U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley. “They risk their lives for all of us, and the men and women of the Western District salute and remember them during National Police Week. We specifically remember those who have fallen while on duty and the legacy of service their sacrifice leaves.”
This year, the names of 286 officers killed in the line of duty are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., during the 2014 Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2014. These names include officers who were killed during 2013 and officers who died in previous years who have not been previously added to the Memorial.
The fallen officers of 2013 include four members of the law enforcement community in the Western District of Louisiana. They are:
- Sergeant Frederick Albert “Rick” Riggenbach of the Chitimacha Tribal Police Department, who died on January 26, 2013;
- Assistant Warden Peggy Sylvester of the Opelousas Police Department, who died on April 14, 2013;
- Special Agent James Terry Watson of the Drug Enforcement Administration, who died June 21, 2013; and
- Deputy Sheriff Steven George Netherland of the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office, who died June 24, 2013.
In order to assist local public safety officers in the work that they do, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Louisiana, offers safety and survival training throughout the year to increase awareness of the hazards they encounter on a daily basis. The course curriculum and sessions are overseen by the Western District’s Law Enforcement Community Coordinator, Michael Campbell, a former Chief of Police for the City of Shreveport. The Western District of Louisiana consists of 42 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, and the courses are open to federal, state, local, military and tribal offices.
“We have and will continue to offer officer safety and survival training to increase awareness of the hazards our public safety officers face on a daily basis,” Finley stated. “Our goal is for all public safety officers to return home to their families at the end of their shifts each and every day.”