News

On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Region and quickly caused major devastation there and across states including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and others.

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., announced the conviction of Lionel Haile, age 31, of St. Francisville, Louisiana.  

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., announced the conviction of Darryl Felder, age 43, of Prairieville, Louisiana. 

U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime and Office on Violence Against Women has awarded $15,454,563 to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement (“LCLE”). 

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Michael Becnel, age 56, of Baton Rouge, to 116 months in federal prison following his conviction for possessing obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children.

U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance has awarded $500,000 to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office to acquire a new digital High Definition (HD) Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR)/camera system for the Air Support Unit's helicopter.

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Richard Hebert, Jr., age 57, of Harvey, Louisiana, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson to making a false statement to a bank in connection with his filing of numerous false and fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in 2020.

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Tyler Dunn, age 23, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 75 months in federal prison following his conviction for interference with commerce by robbery.

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Allen Ambrose, age 47, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 192 months in federal prison following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. 

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Jonathan Wayne Lanaute, age 40, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick to bank robbery. 

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced the sentencing of Timothy Franklin, age 40, a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles as the result of 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 based and operating in East Baton Rouge Parish. 

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced criminal charges against three individuals in connection with an alleged scheme to acquire controlled substances by fraud, to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and to defraud Medicaid.