OIG issued a public report detailing the investigation into Ware Youth Center (WYC) and its contract with the Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) to provide secure care detention facilities and staffing for post-adjudicatory juveniles placed in OJJ's custody.
OIG issued a public report detailing the investigation into the fentanyl overdose death of two year- old Mitchell Robinson III on June 26, 2022, and actions of the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) related to the same.
On May 8, 2023 the Office of State Inspector General (OIG) issued a report of our investigation into certain actions of the Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners (LSBPSE) and certain employees of the board after the board's chief administrative officer, Fabian Blache III, was placed on Administrative Leave in July of 2021. As stated in that report, additional matters remained under investigation. On December 18, 2023, OIG issued a supplemental report that details our further investigation into those remaining matters.
Baton Rouge, La - United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Chaz Ryan Watkins, age 35, of Springfield, Louisiana, to 48 months in federal prison following his conviction for wire fraud in connection with a fraudulent scheme to obtain pandemic unemployment benefits.
MONROE, La. – Edward Calloway, 44, of West Monroe, Louisiana, has been sentenced on federal wire fraud charges, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. At the sentencing hearing, Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced Calloway to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
The Office of State Inspector General (OIG) conducted an investigation into certain actions of the Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners (LSBPSE) and certain employees of the board after the board's chief administrative officer, Fabian Blache III, was placed on Administrative Leave in July of 2021.
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Chaz Ryan Watkins, age 35, of Springfield, Louisiana, pled guilty before U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick to wire fraud in connection with a fraudulent scheme to obtain pandemic unemployment benefits. As a result of his plea, Watkins faces up to 20 years imprisonment.
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Elliott Sterling, age 34, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 132 months in federal prison following his convictions for wire fraud, financial aid fraud, and engaging in monetary transactions involving property derived from specified unlawful activity. The Court further sentenced Sterling to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered him to pay restitution in the amounts of $2,760,422 to the U.S. Department of Education and $90,000 to the Small Business Administration.
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Parviz Sharifrazi, age 70, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 24 months in federal prison following his convictions for mail fraud and money laundering. The Court further sentenced Sharifrazi to serve one year of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Neiyondra Rogers, age 38, of Greensburg, Louisiana, to 33 months in federal prison following her conviction for theft of government funds. The Court further sentenced Rogers to serve three years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment and ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $179,252.85 to the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program; $20,832 to the Small Business Administration (SBA); and $16,961 to the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., announced the conviction of Elliot Sterling, age 33, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Sterling was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 3, 2020, and charged with wire fraud, financial aid fraud, and engaging in monetary transactions involving property derived from specified unlawful activity.
SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Lynn D. Cawthorne, 55, a former Caddo Parish Commissioner, and his sister and co-defendant, Belena C. Turner, 50, both of Shreveport, Louisiana, were sentenced today by United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote for committing wire fraud.
Jackson, MS – A Minden woman was sentenced on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, to 24 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $244,060.09 in restitution for embezzling and converting government funds to her own use.
SHREVEPORT, La. - Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that two defendants scheduled to begin trial Monday, November 8, 2021...
Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Corey Roshel Powell, age 43, of Delhi, Louisiana, to 29 months in federal prison following his conviction for a scheme to defraud the USDA’s summer food service program. The Court further sentenced Powell to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
Jackson, MS – Teressia Garner, 60, of Minden, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on July 9, 2021, to embezzling, and converting government funds to her own use, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca; Douglas Williams, FBI Special Agent in Charge, New Orleans Field Division; Dax Robertson, USDA OIG Special Agent in Charge in New Orleans; and Stephen Street, Louisiana Inspector General.
SHREVEPORT, La. – Audrey Williams, 57, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced today for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Williams to 48 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Williams was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $286,987.08.
SHREVEPORT, La. - Carol Bates, the former comptroller for Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC), was sentenced today for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Bates, 50, of Shreveport, Louisiana, to 60 months (5 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Bates was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $286,987.08.
United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced this week that Corey Roshel Powell, age 42, of Delhi, Louisiana, pled guilty before U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick to wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program. Janie Johnson Smith, age 40, of Monroe, Louisiana, was also indicted with wire fraud for her participation in the scheme. The pair face terms of imprisonment of up to 20 years, fines, and periods of supervised released upon conviction.
A federal grand jury recently returned a fourteen-count indictment charging Elliott Sterling, age 32, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with wire fraud, financial aid fraud, and engaging in monetary transactions involving property derived from specified unlawful activity. Sterling appeared for his arraignment yesterday and pled not guilty to the pending charges.
SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Carol Bates, the former comptroller for Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC), pled guilty today before Chief U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr., to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 94095, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9095
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PHONE NUMBER: (225) 342-4262 | FAX NUMBER: (225) 342-6761
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