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HISTORY OF
THE MCC
The
MCC was founded February 19, 1952 in
response to citizens’ and civic
leaders’ outrage with abundant
crime and corruption in the New Orleans
area. A Board of Directors comprised
of a cross section of community leaders
has guided the Crime Commission throughout
our history.
In
the course of the MCC’s more
than 50 years of operation, we have
had the honor operating under the
leadership of three Managing Directors
/ Presidents:
Aaron
Kohn; Managing Director
from 1954 to 1978
Warren
DeBrueys; Managing Director
from 1979 to 1989
Rafael
Goyeneche III; Managing Director/President
from 1989 to present
Since
our inception, the MCC has been involved
in a broad range of activities pursuant
to our mission. Through our sources,
investigations, and research, we have
uncovered numerous instances of corruption. We
have been influential in the passage
and adoption of a variety of legislative
initiatives such as advocating for
harsher penalties for felons with firearms,
passage of the Organized Control Act
of 1970, and requiring public officials
convicted of felonies to be removed
from office. The MCC has also
participated in the genesis of public
agencies and community movements, and
provided accountability that has shaped
operations of public entities.
In 2005, the MCC expanded
into the Baton Rouge area and established
a toll free hotline that now covers
the entire state of Louisiana.
We
remain ever vigilant our fight against
government waste and corruption. Presented
below is a brief sample of some of
our cases since the official inception
of our Anti-Public Corruption program
in 1993. Many of the more recent
cases handled by the MCC are highly
sensitive in nature or are ongoing
and awaiting final disposition. These
represent only a few of our
more high-profile cases.
top2009 2008 2007 2006
2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
2009
Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price Resigns, Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges
In the wake of media regarding the misuse of a police vehicle by a Mandeville City Councilmember and misuse of the city’s “Toys for Tots” fund, the MCC received a litany of complaints regarding Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price. Some of the complaints included Mayor Price driving through a Causeway bridge toll barricade while apparently under the influence of alcohol, issuing an identification badge granting a convicted felon access through post-hurricane police barricades, being given use of a city contractor’s vehicle for below market rates, and charging a hotel bill to the City of Mandeville to attend a friend’s wedding. In October of 2009, Mayor Price resigned and pled guilty to federal charges of defrauding citizens of his honest services and tax evasion. Additional charges against Mr. Price continue to be pursued by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.
34th Judicial District Judge Wayne Cresap and Accomplices Plead Guilty to Federal Charges
Following up on an anonymous tip, the MCC conducted a research examination of bail bond releases in St. Bernard Parish. The MCC’s findings were forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation who completed a criminal investigation into the matter. Judge Wayne Cresap was found to have been engaged in an illegal business agreement in which lawyers Sal Cusimano and Victor Dauterive would pay Judge Cresap to grant their clients unsecured release from jail. Judge Cresap, Mr. Cusimano, and Mr. Dauterive pled guilty to federal charges in October of 2009.
New Orleans Interim Technology Chief Officer Suspended, Terminated
New Orleans Interim Technology Chief Anthony Jones was demoted, suspended, and ultimately fired after the discovery that he falsified academic credentials, accepted special benefits from a contractor, and created a false invoice. The MCC was essential in providing City Hall with information received from informants about the misconduct and misrepresentations of Mr. Jones, which led to his suspension in March of 2009 and termination in May of 2009.
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2008
Public Service Commissioner Cited for Potential Ethical Breach
An informant contacted the MCC concerned about a letter received from Public Service Commissioner (PSC) Jay Blossman on official letterhead requesting a meeting with a salesperson and recommending the private company’s product. The informant was regulated by the PSC and felt that there could be business repercussions for not following Mr. Blossman’s request. The MCC forwarded the complaint to the Legislative Auditor who, in June of 2008, determined that the letter “could be considered coercive and intimidating” and was potentially a breach of Louisiana ethical laws. Mr. Blossman did not seek reelection in the fall of 2008.
Criminal Sheriff Captain Resigns after MCC Uncovers Criminal History
An MCC referral to the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Office (OPCSO) in October of 2008 resulted in the resignation of Reserve Captain Donald Ditta as a consequence of several felony counts that he failed to disclose in his application to the OPCSO. Mr. Ditta was arrested multiple times for obscenity charges and was sentenced to 5 years probation in 1980. The resignation of Mr. Ditta was a direct result of the OPCSO’s investigation initiated by the MCC’s referral into the matter.
Band Director Guilty of Criminal Misconduct with Students
A student at Destrahan High School contacted the MCC reporting that her complaint of inappropriate conduct against Band Director Byron Toups was not being properly investigated. The MCC conducted an inquiry into the matter and located several other victims. In March of 2008, Mr. Toups was arrested for molestation of a juvenile, indecent behavior with a juvenile, and simple battery. Mr. Toups later pled guilty to malfeasance, intimidation of a witness, and simple battery in August of 2009. At the conclusion of the case, the District Attorney of St Charles Parish was quoted as saying, “many potential victims were spared because of (the MCC’s) actions."
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2007
Misuse of Citizens Service Fund donations, Mandeville, Louisiana
A 2007 MCC referral to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor uncovered the Mandeville Police Department’s abuse of the Citizens Service Fund (better known as “Toys for Tots”). The fund was used to purchase gifts for public employees including City Council members, police department employees, and Mayor Eddie Price. The investigation of the fund revealed that $114 and $0 was spent on toys in 2005 and 2006, respectively, while over $3,000 was spent on Wal-Mart gift cards to which many public employees were recipients. The discovery led to the reimbursement of $2,300 by Mayor Price and the creation of a nonprofit organization tasked with overseeing future expenditures and toy drives.
St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Terminated, Convicted
An informant contacted the MCC in May of 2006 reporting that no criminal action was being taken in response to domestic violence perpetrated by then Lieutenant Wayne Schaeffer of the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office. Additional victims came forward to the MCC and Lieutenant Schaeffer was terminated and then indicted by a grand jury for numerous charges including sexual battery and aggravated rape. In May of 2009, Lieutenant Schaeffer pled guilty to second degree battery and malfeasance in office.
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2006
MCC Exposes Ethical Breach of Mandeville City Councilmember
A tip provided to the MCC uncovered that Mandeville City Councilperson Jerry Coogan took a marked police car to visit his family in Florida two weeks after Hurricane Katrina. The MCC filed a complaint with the Louisiana Ethics Review Board based upon Mr. Coogan’s use of public property for personal reasons. In March of 2007, the Louisiana Board of Ethics notified Mr. Coogan that his use of the patrol car was unethical. Media accounts from Mr. Coogan’s unethical conduct led to complaints regarding additional violations in Mandeville that continue to be investigated and prosecuted.
Orleans Parish Criminal Judge Suspended, Retires Under Investigation
In March of 2005, the MCC’s Research Program issued a report examining bail bonds, which found that Judge Charles Elloie accounted for a disproportionately high number of bail bond releases. After the report’s release, the MCC continued to scrutinize Judge Elloie’s bond reductions. Most notably, Judge Elloie reduced bonds for individuals arrested for pedophilia and possession of a stockpile of weapons, drugs, and money. He also issued bond reductions while attending a conference in Jamaica. After being suspended from his judgeship in October of 2006, Judge Elloie retired in June of 2007 while under investigation by the Louisiana Supreme Court.
New Orleans Police Sergeant Guilty of Fraud
In January of 2006, Informants contacted the MCC to report that New Orleans Police Sergeant Daryl Odom defrauded them by accepting payments to renovate their Katrina-damaged home and only partially completing the work. The MCC’s investigation determined that Sergeant Odom was on paid disability leave at the time he was doing construction work. The MCC forwarded our findings to the New Orleans Police Department, and the ensuing investigation led to Sergeant Odom’s dismissal and conviction for a federal charge of mail fraud in November of 2007.
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2005
New
Orleans City
Attorney Convicted of Federal Civil
Rights Violation
Henry Dillon III, a former Deputy City
Attorney/Prosecutor for the City of New
Orleans, was accused of raping a young
woman after luring her into his office
by offering to help her with a municipal
citation. The victim and her family
came to the MCC concerned that politically
connected Mr. Dillon would not be successfully
prosecuted in the state criminal justice
system. The MCC conducted a preliminary
investigation and filed a report with
the FBI and U.S. Attorney. The
MCC urged federal officials to charge
Mr. Dillon with civil rights violations. He
was ultimately prosecuted for felony
civil rights violations against multiple
victims. This case is the first
time that this law/statute was used in
a rape case in the Eastern District of
Louisiana. The investigation revealed
at least five additional victims, establishing
Henry Dillon as a serial rapist that
the MCC helped, in part, to remove from
the community.
MCC
Tip Solves Bank Robberies, Armored
Car Robbery, Shooting
Based upon a tip from a reliable MCC
informant, five individuals were arrested
for participating in a spree of robberies
including four bank robberies, an armored
car robbery, and a robbery in which a
woman was shot with an AK-47. The
informant notified the MCC of the suspects’ identities,
whereabouts, and direct involvement in
these crimes. The MCC provided
the tip to the appropriate authorities
who executed arrests against these violent
criminals.
Harahan
Captain Implicated in Ticket-Fixing
/ Overtime Fraud
The MCC brought to light that Harahan
Police Captain Joseph Schaub had been
receiving overtime compensation to deliver
tickets to Jefferson Parish and New Orleans
prosecutors to have them fixed. When
the MCC’s inquiry became known,
the Captain refunded the overtime compensation
and implicated the Harahan Police Chief. Captain
Schaub alleges that the overtime was
approved by his superiors and his superiors
gave him orders to deliver the tickets
for fixing. This case has been
presented to local prosecutors.
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2004
Orleans
Parish Assistant District Attorney
Fired for Extortion
Tanzanika Q. Ruffin, an Assistant District
Attorney in Orleans Parish, was fired
after an MCC investigation documented
her involvement in an attempt to extort
money from a New Orleans couple. A
local handyman attempted to over-bill
the couple for work. When the
couple refused to pay, Ms. Ruffin,
who is a friend of the handyman, got
involved and demanded the payment of
an extra $1,000 fee, allegedly for
the District Attorney’s Office. The
couple contacted the MCC, and the investigative
report and evidence was presented to
the District Attorney who promptly
fired Ms. Ruffin.
New
Orleans Police Department Officer
Resigns Amid Payroll Fraud Investigation
An anonymous informant contacted the
MCC reporting that NOPD Lieutenant Kenneth
Harris had fraudulently requested and
received overtime pay. Lieutenant
Harris was accused of claiming to have
worked overtime while he was receiving
advanced training at the FBI academy
in Quantico, Virginia. After the
MCC filed a complaint alleging payroll
fraud with the NOPD’s Public Integrity
Bureau, he resigned his position while
under investigation by the department. The
MCC also notified the FBI, and Harris
was placed into a Federal Diversion program
for first offenders.
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2003
New
Orleans Police Department Crime Downgrading
Scandal
After an initial report filed by the
MCC, NOPD Chief of Police Edwin Compass
invited the MCC to participate in an
investigation of downgrading reported
crimes in the NOPD’s 1st District. The
investigation revealed that 42% of
crimes reported in the 1st District
were downgraded. Five NOPD officers,
including the 1st District Commander,
were terminated as a result of the
investigation. The MCC called
for a thorough examination of crime
downgrading throughout the entire department,
but NOPD Chief Edwin Compass refused
expansion of the investigation. In
the end, the five officers appealed
their terminations and were reinstated
with the NOPD, and, although the problem
of downgrading crime statistics was
proven, the full extent of crime downgrading
continues to be unknown.
Causeway Law Enforcement Bridge Toll Pass
Scandal
Tips to the MCC and a subsequent investigation revealed that a substantial number of individuals had forged public documents claiming that they were law enforcement officers in order to illegally receive free passage on the Causeway Bridge. Louisiana law allows for full-time, paid law enforcement officers with arrest powers to drive across the Causeway Bridge free of charge 24 hours a day whether on or off duty. As a result of this MCC investigation, numerous arrests have been made and the Causeway has seen a decrease in the number of applications for free law enforcement passes worth approximately $200,000 per year. Some of the more notable arrests in this case include Executive Director of the Crescent City Connection Alan Levasseur, City of Harahan Director of Code Enforcement Jeffrey Charlet, and politically connected East Jefferson Levee District Field Forman Richard Arnoult. In March of 2006, Richard Arnoult pled guilty to falsifying public records, and Jeffrey Charlet pled guilty to impersonating a police officer in January of 2007. Charges against Alan Levassuer were dismissed in May of 2004.
Harahan
Police Department Election Campaign
Fraud
As a direct result of a tips received
by the MCC, Ray Uloth, a former police
officer and candidate running for Chief
of Police in Harahan, was indicted on
two counts of violating Louisiana campaign
finance laws. Mr. Uloth’s
campaign manager owned a construction
company and told 10 of his employees
that he would reimburse their donations
if they each contributed $400 to the
campaign. One of the employees
contacted the MCC complaining about the
illicit donations. The MCC investigated
the case and forwarded the findings to
the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s
Office who filed charges against Mr.
Uloth. Mr. Uloth ultimately finished
last in the election and pleaded guilty
to misdemeanor charges in connection
with his campaign spending.
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2002
Uniformed
New Orleans Police Officer Appears
in Sexually Explicit Film
The MCC received a videotape from an
anonymous tipster showing NOPD Sergeant
Bruce Little in a sexually explicit
film while wearing his police uniform. Two
other officers, Dan McMullen Jr. and
Jeff Jacob, also appeared in plainclothes
in the adult film. The three
officers were recorded while working
a paid police detail providing security
for the film production. All
three officers received suspensions
and the NOPD revised its policy regarding
film production security details as
a result of this MCC case.
New
Orleans City
Hall Corruption Crackdown
Shortly after taking office, Mayor Ray
Nagin enlisted the assistance of the
MCC’s Anti-Public Corruption Program
in his efforts to combat corruption in
New Orleans City Hall. The MCC
recorded in excess of 600 reports of
corruption in New Orleans government
that were forwarded to the FBI, U.S.
Attorney, and NOPD task force. Some
of the more common corruption and bribery
complaints related to issuing city contracts,
permits, licenses, and city brake tags. This
investigation resulted in numerous convictions
and resignations while under investigation.
Louisiana State
Trooper Indicted for Sexual Battery
Based on a report from the MCC, Louisiana
State Trooper Python Brown was arrested
for committing sexual battery against
a woman he had pulled over for speeding
and DWI. Trooper Brown told the
woman that he would not arrest her for
DWI if she had sex with him. The
woman complied with trooper’s demands
and later came to the MCC seeking assistance
in pursuing charges against Trooper Brown. Trooper
Brown lost his position with the Louisiana
State Troopers and pled guilty to charges
of malfeasance in office.
West
Jefferson Levee District Commissioner
Removed Based on MCC Complaint
West Jefferson Levee District Commissioner
Ronald Jones solicited several individuals
to form a corporation so that he could
steer a multi-million dollar contract
to their newly formed company. One
of the individuals approached by Mr.
Jones contacted the MCC wanting to stop
Mr. Jones’ unscrupulous activities. The
MCC forwarded the complaint to the Louisiana
Office of Inspector General, and Governor
Mike Foster subsequently removed Mr.
Jones from his position with the levee
district commission.
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2001
Jefferson
Parish Planning Board Member Resigns
Amid MCC Investigation
Upon learning about an MCC investigation
into his efforts to have land rezoned
for his personal benefit, Mike Collura
resigned his position with the Jefferson
Parish Planning Board. Mr. Collura
proposed measures that would have rezoned
property adjacent to his and enabled
a billboard to be erected on Mr. Collura’s
land. Without the rezoning of
the adjacent land, the billboard could
not be erected. When the MCC
forwarded its investigation report
to the Jefferson Parish President,
Mr. Collura resigned and the rezoning
ordinance was terminated.
Westwego
Councilman Fined for Ethics Violation
The MCC received a tip and conducted
an investigation, which found that Westwego
Councilman Melvin Guidry had been selling
items to the city through his private
employer. The MCC turned its report
over to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor,
and Mr. Guidry was found to be in violation
of three sections of the Code of Governmental
Ethics. The State Board of Ethics
fined Mr. Guidry $1,500 for his violations.
St.
Tammany, Covington Fire Chief Dismissed
in Payroll Scandal
Randy Piwets, Chief of the Covington
Area Fire Prevention District No. 12,
was fired as the MCC investigated accusations
of payroll fraud within the department. Allegedly,
full-time firefighters had been paying
volunteer firefighters to work their
shifts but were paying the volunteers
less than they were being paid and pocketing
the difference. Chief Piwets was
also accused of using a fire department
vehicle to attend an out of state NASCAR
race and accepting free admission tickets
to the racetrack infield. A vendor
who recently sold apparatus to the fire
department provided the free tickets
to Chief Piwets.
St.
Charles Parish Sheriff’s
Deputy Arrested for Coercing Motorist
Into Taking Nude Photograph
Based upon an MCC investigation, St.
Charles Parish Sheriff’s Deputy
Carroll Pete Thibodeaux was arrested
for coercing a woman to allow him to
take a photograph of her breasts in exchange
for not arresting her for DWI. Individuals
close to the case contacted the MCC,
because the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s
Office initially handled this case as
an administrative matter and allowed
Deputy Thibodaux to resign his position
with the Sheriff’s office. After
the MCC filed a report, the St. Charles
Parish District Attorney initiated prosecution
against Deputy Thibodeaux who pled guilty
to charges of criminal mischief in 2002.
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2000
Overt
Racism Results in New Leadership
for Causeway Police Department
The MCC obtained and released a videotape
showing Causeway Police Department
Major Ronald Guagliardo using racial
slurs and coaching officers on how
to beat complaints of civil rights
violations. In response to the
video, Major Guagliardo was fired from
his position after working 17 years
for the Causeway Police Department. Subsequently,
Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee
sympathized with Major Guagliardo and
hired him to work for the Jefferson
Parish Sheriff’s Office. Five
weeks later, after broad public outcry,
Major Guagliardo resigned his position
with Sheriff Lee. In the midst
of the fallout from the racist conduct
of Major Guagliardo, Causeway Police
Chief Timothy Fondren resigned his
position. Shortly thereafter,
General Manager Hunter Wagner also
left his position with the Causeway
Commission.
St.
Tammany Parish Pyramid Scheme
The MCC uncovered the widespread involvement
of St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s
deputies in a pyramid scheme called the “Friend
and Family Private Gifting Program.” Ultimately,
49 deputies, including four high-ranking
officers, were disciplined for participating
in the scheme. Officers who had
benefited from the pyramid scheme donated
their gains, about $100,000, to charity.
MCC
Uncovers Convicted Felon and Nepotism
in Orleans Parish Criminal District
Court
The MCC found that Criminal District
Court Judge Charles Elloie had an individual
with more than 40 felony convictions
working for him in his section of Criminal
District Court. In addition, his
wife, Charmaine Haydel Elloie was working
as his minute clerk. The MCC referred
this case to the Judiciary Commission
and Judge Elloie’s wife was removed
from her position in Criminal District
Court.
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1999
Delgado Community
College Dean Resigns Amid MCC Investigation
At the conclusion of a four-month MCC
investigation into mismanagement and
inappropriate behavior of Delgado officials,
long-time Dean of Delgado Community
College’s West Bank Facility
J. Berengher Brechtel resigned his
position after nearly 20 years with
the college. The investigation
uncovered accusations of sexual harassment
and misuse of Delgado’s resources
for personal benefit.
Unraveling
the Canal Street Cartel
Tips provided to the MCC resulted in
two New Orleans area attorneys, Richard
A. Cuccia and Thomas L. Grand, pleading
guilty to felony federal charges of mail
fraud, tax evasion, and failure to report
a felony (misprison). These two
attorneys were involved in the “Canal
Street Cartel,” which comprised
a sophisticated ring of attorneys and
runners. The attorneys hired runners
to go to the scene of car accidents to
solicit clients and refer accident victims
to sympathetic medical clinics. In
addition to these convictions, dozens
of runners were arrested who subsequently
provided the information needed to obtain
convictions against the attorneys.
New
Orleans Police Department Recants
Officer Commendations,
Gives Suspensions
A tip to the MCC disproved two NOPD officers’,
Officer Daniel Chauvin, Jr. and Brian
Danigole, claim that they rescued a woman
who had driven her car into the Morrison
Road Canal in New Orleans East. The
NOPD awarded the officers gold medals
and $500 savings bonds as awards for
their claimed heroics. However,
the NOPD took back the medals and savings
bonds and gave the officers nine-day
suspensions based upon evidence that
informant provided to the MCC showing
that the officers arrived at the scene
after a civilian had rescued the accident
victim.
Harahan
Police Officer Fired for Selling
Body Armor
Based upon a tip from the MCC, Harahan
Police Officer Wiley Wood, IV was disciplined
and Harahan Reserve Police Officer Lloyd
Alphonso was fired for helping local
rap artist Percy “Master P” Miller
purchase 10 police body armor vests. With
the use of Officer Wood’s law enforcement
credential and Mr. Alphonso acting as
a broker, Mr. Miller secured a nearly
fifty percent discount on the vests. Officer
Wood and Mr. Alphonso shared approximately
$2,000 in profit from the sale to Mr.
Miller.
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1998
New
Orleans Police Department Deputy
Chief Reprimanded for
Falsifying
Expenditures
An MCC informant reported that Deputy
Chief Ronal Serpas and Lieutenant Thomas
Smegal had sought and obtained falsified
invoices in their previous assignments
within the mounted patrol division. Chief
Serpas was censured for his role in
soliciting fake invoices for horse
feed. These fake invoices enabled
the officers to use the department’s
monies to purchase other, unapproved
equipment for the mounted unit. Lieutenant
Smegal received a three day suspension.
New
Orleans Police Department Record
Room Scandal Leads to Convictions
An MCC investigative report turned over
to the FBI led to six NOPD record room
clerks and two proprietors of Spee-Dee
Police Reports being convicted of federal
charges. In this case, Spee-Dee
Police Reports routinely bribed employees
of the NOPD record room in order to receive
police reports. Employees received
bribes ranging from designer pens to
a Toyota Camry. The FBI investigation
into the case found that the city was
defrauded out of at least $70,000.
MCC
Complaint Results in Arrest of
Charles Elloie, Jr.
A victim of theft contacted the MCC to
report that Charles Elloie, Jr, the son
of a Criminal District Court Judge, had
stolen from him. The victim informed
the MCC that Mr. Elloie met him in traffic
court and offered to fix a ticket for
the victim. Mr. Elloie took the
victim’s traffic citation to a
desk in the rear of the court, returned,
and told the victim that he expected
compensation for his assistance, which
the victim paid. The victim later
learned that the ticket had not been
fixed and reported the theft to the MCC. Mr.
Elloie was subsequently arrested and
convicted.
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1997
New
Orleans Fire Department Changes Hiring
Policies in
Response to MCC Inquiry
After receiving an MCC inquiry into
the thoroughness of background checks
for New Orleans firefighters, the City
of New Orleans broadened their evaluation
of Fire Department applicants’ criminal
histories. After New Orleans
firefighter David Mahler was arrested
for second degree murder, the MCC learned
that the Fire Department looked only
at potential fire recruits’ conviction
histories in a limited number of jurisdictions. The
MCC wrote to the City of New Orleans’ Office
of Municipal Investigations asking
them to review this procedure, and
the city adopted procedures looking
into recruits’ arrests, convictions,
and employment histories. In
immediate response to this new procedure,
16 prospective recruits were eliminated
from consideration.
Tip
to MCC Provides Information in
New Orleans Police Department Officers’ Drug
Dealing Operations
An anonymous informant contacted the
MCC and provided information that led
to the arrest and conviction of two corrupt
NOPD Officers, David and Ron Singleton. This
tip contributed to the case against officers
David and Ron Singleton that culminated
into federal charges of drug distribution
and money-laundering. Both officers
pled guilty to drug trafficking in connection
with a cocaine ring run by Richard Pena
and were given lengthy prison sentences. David
Singleton admitted to apprehending a
rival drug dealer and delivering him
to Richard Pena, and each of the officers
provided testimony in cases against other
members of the drug distribution network.
Molester’s
Probation Revoked After MCC Complaint
A tip to the MCC and subsequent MCC investigation
led to the arrest of a convicted child
molester for parole violations. In
this case, a concerned citizen contacted
the MCC seeking to remain anonymous. The
citizen reported that the molester was
living in close proximity to two schools
with his parents, in direct contradiction
to the orders of his parole release. The
MCC conducted an investigation, which
verified the molester’s improper
residence and forwarded the findings
to the parole board. In response,
the parole board revoked the pedophile’s
probation.
Suspended
Lawyer Arrested Based Upon MCC
Referral
The MCC notified the Orleans Parish District
Attorney that Jose Castro continued practicing
law after his license was suspended,
and Mr. Castro was arrested for his ongoing
illicit law practice. Mr. Castro’s
law license had previously been suspended,
because he was convicted of insurance
fraud. During the suspension of
his license, the MCC learned, Mr. Castro
continued to provide services as an attorney
which resulted in his arrest for practicing
law under a suspended license and illegally
paying to solicit a client.
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1996
MCC
Complaint Leads to Ethics Fine for
Head of New Orleans City
Property Management
The MCC received a tip alleging that
Kerry DeCay, Director of the New
Orleans Department of Property Management,
had a city employee use city-owned
materials perform work at his home
while being paid by the city. The
MCC forwarded the report to the city’s
Office of Municipal Investigation,
which led to formal charges being
filed by the Louisiana Board of Ethics. In
1998, Mr. DeCay pled guilty to two
state ethics violations and was fined
$1,500.
Causeway
Overhauls Ticket Writing System
After MCC
Uncovers Ticket Fixing
A former employee of the Causeway Police
Department reported a problem with ticket
fixing to the MCC and presented bags
of shredded tickets as proof of this
practice. In the course of the
MCC’s investigation into the ticket
fixing accusation, the MCC found that
there was poor accountability for tickets
written by Causeway Police that made
it easy to conceal when tickets were
shredded rather than forwarded to court
for prosecution. In response to
the MCC’s findings, the Causeway
implemented a new ticket writing system
which better documented tickets and made
it more difficult to resolve traffic
citations outside of official channels.
Orleans
Criminal District Court Judge Censured
for Seeking Leniency
for Convicted
Mobster
An MCC complaint to the Judiciary Commission
lead to the public censure of Criminal
District Court Judge Frank Marullo. When
reputed mobster Anthony Carollo was convicted
of racketeering, Judge Marullo wrote
a letter seeking leniency from the judge
sentencing Mr. Carollo. The MCC
learned of Judge Marullo’s request
and filed a complaint with the Louisiana
Judiciary Commission. The Judiciary
Commission found Judge Marullo in violation
of Supreme Court rules and publicly censured
him for his misconduct.
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1995
Ranking
Officer Interferes with New Orleans
Police Department
Internal Investigation
An anonymous complaint to the MCC revealed
that a ranking NOPD officer had compromised
an internal investigation. In
this case, an NOPD supervisor was working
with a DEA investigation of an NOPD
officer. A ranking officer forced
the supervisor to reveal the target
of the investigation. Very shortly
after the ranking officer was told
the name of the officer targeted in
the investigation, the case was found
to be compromised. It was suspected
that the target became aware that he
was being investigated. After
the MCC became involved and uncovered
what had occurred, the ranking officer
was relieved of his command.
St.
Charles Parish Employee Flooding
Neighbor’s Land
A homeowner in St. Charles Parish called
the MCC to report that her home regularly
flooded when it rained. She had
reported the problem to her councilman
who refused to assist her. The
MCC investigation found that her neighbor,
a St. Charles Parish employee, was using
a parish-owned pump to pump rainwater
onto her property to prevent his property
from flooding. After the MCC reported
the problem to the appropriate authorities,
the parish took the pump from the neighbor’s
house and the St. Charles Parish employee
was disciplined.
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1994
Head
of the New Orleans Police Department
Inspections Bureau
Charged with Battery
Lieutenant Christopher Maurice, former
head of the NOPD’s inspections
divisions, was prosecuted for simple
battery after the MCC appealed to the
New Orleans District Attorney to press
charges. Lt. Maurice, whose official
job duties included enforcing NOPD
policies, was accused of battery against
a local radio personality and given
a municipal summons for the offense. A
New Orleans Municipal Court Judge threw
out the charges against Lt. Maurice. After
the case was thrown out of municipal
court, the MCC conducted a follow-up
investigation and filed a complaint
with the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s
Office alleging additional victims
and violations. The District
Attorney accepted charges against Lt.
Maurice, who was convicted of simple
battery and released from the NOPD.
MCC
Concerns Halt Judge’s Pursuit
of Federal Bench
After the MCC raised questions about
Orleans Parish Traffic Court Judge Terry
Alarcon’s alleged part ownership
of a gambling company, the Judge withdrew
himself from consideration to an appointment
as a Federal Judge. Prior to the
MCC expressing concerns, Judge Alarcon
had been recommended for the judgeship
by Louisiana’s two Senators and
appeared likely to be strongly considered
for the position.
Second
Judge Rescinds Candidacy for Federal
Judgeship
After Ms. Dale Atkins, Clerk of Criminal
Court in Orleans Parish, was recommended
for a federal district judgeship, the
MCC wrote a letter to the Louisiana Judiciary
Commission expressing concern over Ms.
Atkins’ ethics. Ms. Atkins’ brother
was a three-time convicted felon who
was being prosecuted for yet another
felony. Ms. Atkins contacted the
District Attorney’s Office asking
that her brother not be prosecuted as
a multiple offender. The MCC regarded
this as an undue application of Ms. Atkins’ authority
and power as a political figure that
presented significant ethical concerns
regarding her potential judgeship. After
the MCC made these concerns public, Ms.
Atkins withdrew herself from consideration
for the judgeship citing that she was
too young for the position.
Officers
Suspended Over Unlicensed Security
Business
NOPD Major Ronal Serpas and Sergeant
Harry Mendoza were suspended when an
investigation based upon an MCC complaint
found that they were operating a private
security business without an occupational
license. The security business
provided off-duty New Orleans Police
Officers for private security and was
operating without the knowledge or permission
of the department.
Back To Top
1993
New
Orleans Police Department Deputy
Chief Fired Due to
Gambling Interests
An MCC investigation uncovered that
the NOPD’s second-in-command,
Deputy Chief Antoine Saacks, had a
business relationship with United Gaming,
a Las Vegas gambling company. The
MCC investigation also found that Chief
Saacks had traveled to Las Vegas with
a convicted felon to establish a business
relationship with United Gaming and
allowed his subordinates to lobby the
Louisiana Legislature in favor of video
poker. Based upon MCC complaints,
Chief Saacks was suspended, demoted,
and ultimately forcible separated from
his employment with the NOPD. Because
of their involvement with Chief Saacks,
United Gaming was placed under investigation
in several states. Publicity
from this case led to United Gaming
changing their name to Alliance Gaming
and undergoing significant changes
in company leadership.
New
Orleans Police Department Fails
to Return Recovered Stolen
Cars to Owners
A tip to the MCC and follow-up investigation
found that NOPD Officers were facilitating
the department’s inappropriate
seizure of stolen automobiles. A
New Orleans city ordinance allowed the
NOPD to take ownership of recovered automobiles
when the cars’ owners could not
be located. It was found that the
NOPD had made poor efforts to locate
the owners of recovered stolen cars. The
MCC uncovered 17 cars worth $250,000
that were illegally seized by the department. In
some instances, owners of recovered vehicles
had contacted the NOPD asking if their
cars had been found and were told that
their automobiles had not been located. In
response to this case, the city ordinance
allowing this practice was amended and
the NOPD adopted procedural changes to
ensure stronger efforts to locate the
owners of recovered vehicles.
MCC
Halts Improper Customs Commission
for Levee Board Aide
A letter from the MCC to the U.S. Customs
Office resulted in Ray Namias having
his commission with the customs agency
revoked. The President of the Levee
Board asked U.S. Customs to grant Mr.
Namias a commission, although U.S. Customs
commissions are only supposed to be granted
to sworn law enforcement officers. Mr.
Namias was not a law enforcement officer
but was granted the commission. In
response, the MCC wrote a letter of complaint
to U.S. Customs regarding Mr. Namias’ commission. The
U.S. Customs commission of Mr. Namias
was revoked, and Mr. Namias was ordered
to stay away from the Levvee Board police
force for exceeding his civilian authority.
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