Former 22nd JDC District Attorney’s Office Investigator Sentenced to 37 Months After Previously Pleading Guilty to Soliciting and Receiving Sexual Favors

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that MICHAEL J. COTTON, age 68, of Bogalusa, Louisiana, was sentenced today to thirty-seven (37) months in prison by United States District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle after previously pleading guilty to the one-count Bill of Information pending against him, charging COTTON with soliciting sexual favors from a woman in exchange for obtaining a bond reduction for her boyfriend.

According to court documents, COTTON worked as an Investigator with the Office of the District Attorney for the 22nd Judicial District, which included St. Tammany and Washington Parishes.  COTTON was responsible for investigating matters involving the issuance of bad checks, including initiating cases, reviewing records, interacting with victims, collecting fees and restitution from offenders, and obtaining warrants from municipal judges.  COTTON also possessed and displayed a law enforcement badge and credentials, represented the DA’s Office in interactions with criminal defendants and witnesses in ongoing law enforcement investigations, and had access to sensitive case-related information.  Furthermore, COTTON regularly corresponded with, had access to, and provided case-related recommendations to Assistant District Attorneys. 

Between December 28, 2013, and July 10, 2015, COTTON offered to intervene in legal proceedings and obtain favorable legal outcomes, such as significant reductions in bond, for three (3) females charged with crimes within the 22nd Judicial District and their friends, family, and significant others who were charged with crimes in exchange for sexual favors.  If females expressed reluctance, COTTON would either imply or state explicitly that he had the ability to influence the criminal justice system to exact harsher penalties against the females or their friends, families, or significant others. 

For example, in July 2015, COTTON demanded sexual favors from a 23-year-old female identified as “Victim 1” in exchange for seeking a bond reduction for her boyfriend, who was a defendant in the Washington Parish jail, from $25,000 to a $30.00 signature bond.  Between December 2013 and March 24, COTTON requested sexual favors from a 28-year-old female identified as “Victim 2” in exchange for arranging for her to retain custody of her minor children and eliminating a drug testing condition she had as the result of prior legal issues.  COTTON told Victim 2 that he had strong relationships with, and possessed the power to influence, representatives of the Washington Parish Department of Children and Family Services, judges of the 22^nd Judicial District, and the then-District Attorney, Walter Reed.  In January 2014, COTTON used his position as Investigator to seek and obtain a significant bond reduction for an incarcerated 23-year-old female identified as “Victim 3” with whom he had a relationship that involved sexual activity.  When, in February 2014, Victim 3 sought to end her sexual relationship with him, COTTON told her that he would use his position as Investigator to influence law enforcement authorities to imprison Victim 3 if she did not resume the sexual relationship.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg.                                                             

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