Former Law Enforcement Officers Sentenced for Conspiracy

NEW ORLEANS—Kevin J. Guillot, age 43, and Daniel G. Spears, age 40, were sentenced today before U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. Guillot was sentenced to 11 months’ imprisonment followed by one year of supervised release, $1,754 in restitution, and $100 special assessment. Spears was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, followed by one year supervised release, and $100 special assessment. Anthony Venezia, age 34, was also sentenced today to one year probation, $100 special assessment, and 50 hours of community services for one count of misprision of a felony. Each defendant will be under federal supervision and risks an additional term of imprisonment should he violate any terms of his supervised release.

According to court documents, Guillot was employed by the New Orleans Police Department for approximately 20 years, rising to the rank of sergeant. In or around April 2012, Guillot resigned from the NOPD. Likewise, Spears was employed as a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy, off-and-on, from 2001 through 2011. Spears resigned from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in or around February 2012.

According to court documents, in or around June 2011, a truck owned by Guillot began malfunctioning and, instead of paying for the repairs, Guillot and others, including Spears, concocted a scheme to defraud his insurance company, Progressive Insurance Company. According to the factual basis, on or about June 28, 2011, Guillot called 911, reported he was in Jefferson Parish all day on a boat with his nephew, Venezia, and claimed his truck had been stolen from a boat launch in Jefferson Parish. Spears, as the JPSO deputy on duty, wrote a police report, substantiating Guillot’s claim. Guillot also called Progressive, his insurance company, and claimed his truck was stolen. In reality, according to court documents, Guillot placed these calls from his home in New Orleans and the truck in question was not stolen but was, in fact, located in his driveway at his home. Thus, as was known by both Guillot and Spears, the claim to the insurance company made by Guillot was false, and Spears’ police report was also false. Additionally, in or around July 2011, Guillot’s nephew, Venezia, was interviewed by representatives of Progressive, and he made numerous false statements to support Guillot’s fraudulent story.

The case was investigated by agents Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as officers from the New Orleans Police Department-Public Integrity Bureau.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Chester.

Metairie Man Sentenced for Bank Robbery

NEW ORLEANS—DAVID DUPLANTIS, age 52 and a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday to 35 months of incarceration by United States District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey for the crime of bank robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to court documents, DUPLANTIS robbed the Whitney National Bank located at 2200 Clearview Parkway, Metairie, Louisiana on November 17, 2011. DUPLANTIS was identified as the robber based upon photos published in the media.

In addition to incarceration, DUPLANTIS will have to pay restitution to the Whitney, pay a $100 mandatory fee to the court, and he will undergo three years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Violent Crime Unit.

Robbery of Fidelity Homestead in Metairie

FBI and JPSO Seek Public’s Assistance in Identifying Suspect

NEW ORLEANS—Todd B. Cox, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Orleans Division of the FBI, along with JPSO Sheriff Newell Normand, requests the public’s assistance in identifying the individual responsible for the robbery of the Fidelity Homestead located at 3829 Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie on June 1, 2012.

At approximately 1:55 p.m., a lone individual approached a teller, implied he had a weapon, and demanded some cash. He received an undisclosed amount of money and fled on foot, lake-bound, on Ferran Drive.

The robber, whose bank surveillance image is below, was described as a white male, unshaven, and having a thin build and long salt and pepper hair. He is approximately 50 years old, 130-160 pounds, 5’10”-6’0” tall, and was wearing dark sunglasses, a khaki or green baseball cap, a light blue T-shirt, and blue jeans.

The public is asked to visit the website www.bandittrackerneworleans.com, which features color photos and descriptions of this bank robber—along with others and fugitives throughout the FBI’s New Orleans Division—to see if they can assist the FBI in identifying and/or locating the captioned wanted individuals.

Anyone with information about today’s bank robbery is asked to call the FBI at 504-816-3000. The Metropolitan Orleans Bank Security Association (MOBSA) is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of this bank robber.

Former Law Enforcement Officers Plead Guilty to Conspiracy

NEW ORLEANS—Kevin J. Guillot, age 43, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana; and Daniel G. Spears, a resident of Belle Chasse, Louisiana, age 40, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. Anthony Venezia, age 34, a resident of Westwego, Louisiana, also pled guilty to one count of misprision of a felony.

According to court documents, Guillot was employed by the New Orleans Police Department for approximately 20 years, rising to the rank of sergeant. In or around April 2012, Guillot resigned from the NOPD. Likewise, Spears was employed as a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy, off-and-on, from 2001 through 2011. Spears resigned from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in or around February 2012.

According to court documents, in or around June 2011, a truck owned by Guillot began malfunctioning and, instead of paying for the repairs, Guillot and others, including Spears, concocted a scheme to defraud his insurance company, Progressive Insurance Company. According to the factual basis, on or about June 28, 2011, Guillot called 911, reported he was in Jefferson Parish all day on a boat with his nephew, Venezia, and claimed his truck had been stolen from a boat launch in Jefferson Parish. Spears, as the JPSO deputy on duty, wrote a police report, substantiating Guillot’s claim. Guillot also called Progressive, his insurance company, and claimed his truck was stolen. In reality, according to court documents, Guillot placed these calls from his home in New Orleans and the truck in question was not stolen but was, in fact, located in his driveway at his home. Thus, as was known by both Guillot and Spears, the claim to the insurance company made by Guillot was false and Spears’s police report was also false. Additionally, in or around July 2011, Guillot’s nephew, Venezia, was interviewed by representatives of Progressive and he made numerous false statements to support Guillot’s fraudulent story.

Guillot and Spears each face a maximum penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. Venezia faces a maximum penalty of up to three years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 22, 2012.

The case was investigated by agents Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as officers from the New Orleans Police Department’s Public Integrity Bureau and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Chester.

Metairie Man Arrested for Illegal Sawed Off Rifle, Sale of Counterfeit Money and Methamphetamine

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — DAVID OUTLAW, age 32, a resident of Metairie, Louisiana, made his first court appearance on an indictment unsealed today charging him with selling an illegal sawed off 9 mm rifle, counterfeit federal reserve notes and a quantity of methamphetamine, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten. OUTLAW was arrested yesterday on a capais issued in connection with the indictment.

The indictment charges OUTLAW with illegally possessing and selling a sawed off rifle, counterfeit federal reserve notes and methamphetamine in November 2011.

U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated jointly by Special Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Secret Service along with detectives from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Kenner Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Tony Sanders of the Violent Crimes Unit.