News

The Justice Department announced today that it has concluded there is reasonable cause to believe that the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (LDOC) routinely confines people in its custody past the dates when they are legally entitled to be released from custody, in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. 

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr.  announced that U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson sentenced Victor Clark Kirk, age 73, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 82 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud. 

The United States has filed a complaint under the National Housing Act of 1934 (NHA) against Bob Dean Jr. and several affiliated corporate entities for misappropriating and misusing the assets and income of four nursing homes in Louisiana before and after Hurricane Ida’s landfall in August 2021.

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Trenton Underwood, age 32, of Denham Springs, Louisiana to 36 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to manufacture and possess counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes, manufacturing counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes, and the possession of counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes.  

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. 

U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that the State of Louisiana has received $567,366 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs and its component, the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, to increase the availability of delinquency prevention and intervention programs for at risk youth, juvenile justice system improvements, and to maintain compliance with the four core requirements of the JJDP Act.  This project plans to support both state and local efforts.

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced the sentencing of Victor Welton, age 49, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as part of Operation Going Bacc to Cali, an extensive federal, state, and local investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) aimed at a drug trafficking network spanning from Compton, California, through Baton Rouge, and to Miami, Florida.

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr.  announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Shawnda Augustus, age 41, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 75 months in federal prison following her convictions for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with fraudulent scheme to obtain unemployment benefits.

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr.  announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Christopher Jackson, age 37, of Ridgeland, Mississippi, to 150 months in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to transport stolen motor vehicles in interstate commerce and to sell stolen motor vehicles, and interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle. 

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Robert James Lowry, age 41, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 170 months in federal prison following his convictions for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and possession of child pornography. 

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., announced the conviction of Dr. Randy J. Lamartiniere, age 64, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced the Middle District of Louisiana’s completion of its first “United Against Hate” program.