News

Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that Thomas Mills V, age 58, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles to possession of child pornography. A jury trial had commenced before Mills entered his guilty plea.

Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that Olvin Rodriguez-Inestroza, age 22, a Honduran national who is present in the United States without authorization, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick to distribution of child pornography. 

Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that a federal jury unanimously convicted Benjamin Thomas, III, age 52, of Hammond, Louisiana, of five counts of failing to truthfully account for and pay over federal trust fund taxes. 

As a part of the largest Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action in Department of Justice History, The Middle District of Louisiana Strike Force Announces Charges Against Two Individuals.

Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced criminal charges against two defendants in connection with alleged schemes to defraud government benefit programs. 

Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that Paris Lashay Haynes, age 28, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles to wire fraud.

Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that federal criminal complaints and arrest warrants were issued charging three Baton Rouge men with multiple offenses stemming from an undercover firearm-trafficking operation that turned violent on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. 

Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that Trisha Milstead, age 53, of Newport, Tennessee, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson to wire fraud.  

Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Blake Joseph Steiner, age 37, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 86 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of child pornography. 

Ellison C. Travis has been appointed by President Trump as the Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana. 

Acting United States Attorney April M. Leon announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Leslie Henry Wilson, age 53, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 12 months in federal prison following her conviction for failure to pay federal taxes. 

Acting United States Attorney April M. Leon announced that three Baton Rouge individuals pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Brian A. Jackson in connection with schemes to obtain controlled substances from pharmacies using fraudulent prescriptions with the stolen identities of licensed medical professionals, and to obtain funds from federal pandemic assistance programs by submitting false and fraudulent applications.

Acting United States Attorney April M. Leon announced the sentencing of five individuals by U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick in connection with an extensive federal, state, and local investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) aimed at a large-scale cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine trafficking network based in Iberville Parish.