Federal Grand Jury Indicts Baton Rouge Man in Connection to LSU Bomb Threat

BATON ROUGE—United States Attorney Donald J. Cazayoux, Jr., announced that the federal grand jury returned an indictment against William Bouvay, Jr., age 42, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in connection with the bomb threat that on Monday caused the evacuation of LSU’s campus. Bouvay was charged with one count of willfully conveying false information concerning the attempt to destroy property by means of explosives in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 844(e). If convicted, Bouvay faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Cazayoux stated, “This investigation is an example of the strong, collaborative efforts of university, local, state, and federal law enforcement. These investigative agencies moved expeditiously and decisively to identify and prosecute the individual responsible for the recent bomb threat against LSU. We appreciate the dedicated efforts of all agencies involved in quickly resolving this investigation. We will continue to work closely with District Attorney Hillar Moore to achieve the best result possible in this case which wreaked havoc and disrupted the lives of the people of LSU and the entire city of Baton Rouge.”

According to FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Anderson, “This investigation should send a clear message to the public and to those who make such terroristic threats to elicit fear, that the FBI and its law enforcement partners will quickly and fully deploy all available resources to bring such individuals to justice.”

District Attorney Hillar Moore stated, “I again commend the strong efforts of our university, local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in quickly solving this crime. We will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in our joint investigation and prosecution.”

“This investigation is an example of the success of law enforcement partnerships at the local, state, and federal level within Louisiana,” said Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent. “The swift culmination of this arrest is indicative of the overwhelming response and resources available to public safety agencies when we work together. I applaud the LSU Administration and the LSU Police Department for their leadership in this investigation.”

“I believe this incident was a prime example of all levels of the law enforcement community working together toward a common goal,” Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said. “That goal was the safety of the students, staff, and visitors on the LSU campus. I was impressed with the way all agencies on the local, state, and federal level worked together not only for the safety of those on campus, but also in the apprehension of the person responsible. I am pleased that the Sheriff’s Office could assist, and we will certainly be there to help anytime we are needed.”

Chief Lawrence Rabalais, LSU Police Department, stated, “The cooperation of the various agencies in this incident is a clear message that this type of action will not be tolerated in our community. The investigation and subsequent arrest, within 48 hours of the incident, are a strong indication of that message.”

The investigation is being conducted by the LSU Police, East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office, FBI, ATF&E, U.S. Marshals Service, Louisiana State Police, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and Baton Rouge City Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frederick A. Menner, Jr.

Sikes Man Convicted of Firing Shots at Louisiana National Guard Helicopter

SHREVEPORT, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that James Lamar Kelly, age 61, of Sikes, Louisiana, was found guilty of three felony counts by a jury last night in federal court in Alexandria of three counts which charged Kelly with endangering the safety of the pilot of a Louisiana Army National Guard helicopter in flight, committing an act of violence against the pilot, and using a deadly and dangerous weapon to forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, and interfere with the pilot.

Testimony at the two-day trial before U.S. District Judge Dee Drell showed that on August 2, 2010, the Louisiana State Police and the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office were conducting a marijuana eradication program detail in Winn Parish. Louisiana Army National Guard (LANG) Counter-Drug Task Force helicopters based at Camp Beauregard in Pineville were assisting in this program by providing pilots and helicopters for the Louisiana State Police to use to conduct aerial surveillance. The LANG Counter Drug Task Force is funded and staffed by the U.S. Department of Defense. This case began when a Louisiana State Trooper was in each helicopter making observations of areas where it was suspected marijuana was being cultivated. At about 3:00 p.m., on Shell Road near Sikes, Louisiana, one of these helicopters was fired upon by a person on the ground. The pilot took action and immediately left the area. He landed at the airport in Natchitoches and inspected the helicopter for damage. No bullet holes were found, and neither the pilot nor the trooper on board were injured. Soon thereafter, Louisiana State Police troopers, Winn Parish Sheriff’s deputies, and a Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries agent located and arrested James Lamar Kelly without incident. They also recovered the 9 mm semiautomatic handgun that Kelly used to shoot at the helicopter.

While at Kelly’s house, Troopers noted a large amount of undelivered mail in various vehicles parked in Kelly’s yard. Kelly was working for a private contractor who had a contract to deliver mail to over 250 U.S. Postal Service customers on a rural route in Winn Parish. Kelly admitted that instead of delivering the mail on his route, he brought it back to his house where he kept it until he either placed it in a dumpster or burned it. Kelly also admitted that he had not been delivering the mail for approximately four years.

Kelly was indicted for the three charges concerning his firing shots at the helicopter and an additional charge of theft of mail. Kelly entered a guilty plea to the theft of mail charge on August 23, 2012, and pled not guilty to the charges related to the helicopter.

Kelly is on bond and scheduled to be sentenced on December 14, 2012, for four offenses of conviction. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on each count concerning the shots fired at the helicopter. The maximum sentence for theft of mail is five years’ imprisonment. Additionally, Kelly can be sentenced a fine of $250,000, three years of supervised release on each charge and forfeiture of his firearm.

U.S. Attorney Finley stated, “Firing shots at any aircraft is a serious crime which endangers both those on the aircraft and those below. This Army National Guard helicopter pilot was performing an important mission in assisting the state trooper on board and state police troopers and Winn Parish Sheriff’s deputies on the ground in their drug eradication program. Luckily, no one was hurt by the defendant’s illegal conduct.”

This case was investigated by the Louisiana State Police, Region II in Alexandria, the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General Office, and the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert W. Gillespie, Jr.

Oakdale Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison on Drug Charges

Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Investigation Code Named “Broken Hitch”

LAKE CHARLES, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that Thomas Dwain Tilton, Jr., age 51, of Oakdale, Louisiana, was sentenced today to 87 months in prison and three years’ supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi as a result of Tilton’s guilty plea in February of 2012.

In May of 2011, Tilton and two others were indicted on drug charges as a result of a joint Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Tilton’s co-defendants admitted to trafficking in methamphetamine for several years and asserted that Tilton was one of their suppliers. On June 11, 2010, the co-defendants went to Humble, Texas, where they met Tilton at a motel room and obtained two ounces of methamphetamine. Upon returning from Texas to Louisiana, the two co-defendants were stopped in Sulphur, Louisiana. One of the co-defendants was found to be in possession of what was later analyzed to be 21 grams of actual methamphetamine.

During his guilty plea, Tilton admitted that his methamphetamine source in East Texas possessed and distributed to him and others more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. Both of Tilton’s co-defendants previously pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Kimberly Ann Thompson pled guilty on March 19, 2012, and was sentenced on July 19, 2012 to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release; Harlis Ramsey Martin pled guilty on March 9, 2012, and was sentenced on June 14, 2012 to 140 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Finley stated: “Methamphetamine continues to have a destructive and deadly effect on our communities. We hope this case sends a message that anyone who traffics in these types of drugs will face serious consequences. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with its law enforcement partners, will not be hindered or deterred in the prosecution of these cases.”

OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police, and Texas Department of Public Safety and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Grayson.

Former Baton Rouge Police Officer Sentenced to 24 Months of Imprisonment in Operation Illegal Motion

BATON ROUGE, LA—United States Attorney Donald J. Cazayoux, Jr. announced the results of another sentence imposed in Operation Illegal Motion, a long-running public corruption investigation involving the state and local criminal justice system. U.S. District Judge James J. Brady sentenced Leonard P. Jackson, age 48, of Prairieville, Louisiana, to 24 months’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, and a $1,000 fine. Jackson was sentenced after having pled guilty to multiple racketeering offenses based on his corrupt activity while a police officer with the Baton Rouge City Police Department.

As outlined during the sentencing, Jackson engaged in various corrupt activities while serving as a police officer, including:

■Jackson was an active participant in taking and facilitating bribes to cause the dismissal and reduction of criminal and traffic charges in Baton Rouge City Court, including charges of battery involving domestic violence. Jackson engaged in the scheme with the Senior Assistant City Prosecutor, the chief investigator for the Public Defender’s Office, court staff, and many others.

■Jackson also took bribes to cause the dismissal and reduction of criminal and traffic charges with the unknowing assistance of other city prosecutors who agreed to Jackson’s recommendations without necessarily knowing their corrupt nature.

■Jackson took bribes from an undercover FBI agent whom he believed was the operator of an illegal gambling operation. Jackson took such bribes in exchange for using his official position to extort an individual out of a $10,000 illegal gambling debt. When the undercover agent asked if Jackson would also protect a drug shipment through Baton Rouge, Jackson responded favorably.

At the sentencing, the court and the United States emphasized that Jackson betrayed the trust and the oath he swore to uphold. The court noted that Jackson’s early acceptance of responsibility and cooperation with the government were also significant considerations, resulting in a sentence much less than the court would have otherwise imposed.

Operation Illegal Motion has resulted in 10 individuals being convicted of various racketeering charges, including violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, related to their participation in a massive bribery scheme involving the corruption of hundreds of criminal and traffic matters in the state and local courts. Those convicted include a Senior Assistant City Prosecutor, two police officers, the chief public defender investigator, a city court employee, a state court employee, and others.

Operation Illegal Motion is an ongoing investigation conducted by this office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Louisiana Office of Inspector General, the Louisiana State Police, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigative Division, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General, and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality-Criminal Investigations Division.

Operation Illegal Motion is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Corey R. Amundson, who serves as the Senior Deputy Criminal Chief, and M. Patricia Jones, who serves as the Senior Litigation Counsel.

South Carolina Fugitive Nabbed in Evangeline Parish

Ville Platte, LA – Early this morning at approximately midnight the U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force (VOTF) from Lafayette with critical assistance from the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police arrested twenty-seven year old Vincente Mendoza. Mendoza was Wanted by the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina. Mendoza allegedly killed Hope Bowers and Latonia Profit on or about March 17, 2012.

Following the homicide the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office gleamed that Mendoza had fled the area and requested assistance from the US Marshals Operation Intercept Task Force (OPIN) in Columbia, SC. The US Marshals in South Carolina immediately adopted the case and began working with Orangeburg County. During the early morning hours of March 20, 2012 one of the victim’s vehicles was recovered in a rural area in Acadia Parish. Louisiana State Police processed the vehicle and VOTF Lafayette became involved in the fugitive investigation. From March 20th to today VOTF worked tirelessly with OPIN in South Carolina to locate associates and develop leads as to Mendoza’s location. Finally, a credible lead was developed suggesting that Mendoza was hiding in a trailer near the 1200 block of Jean Pierre Road outside Ville Platte, Louisiana.

As the lead was “firmed up” VOTF contacted the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office who provided vast resources and assistance. At approximately midnight this morning Mendoza was arrested in the living area of the trailer. He was sleeping on the couch and initially denied his identity, but after questioning admitted to being Vincente Mendoza.

Henry Whitehorn, the US Marshal for the Western District of Louisiana, said, “The coordinated effort of all law enforcement to bring dangerous criminals to justice ensures that the streets and neighborhoods of Louisiana are a safer place to raise our children.”

The Western District of Louisiana’s Violent Offender Task Force (VOTF) in Lafayette is a team comprised of full-time law enforcement officers from the Lafayette City Marshals, Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Police Department, St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana Probation and Parole. Further, VOTF Lafayette calls upon part-time TFO’s and partners throughout its eight parish area. In 2010 VOTF Lafayette closed approximately 500 Warrants, most of which were violent felony offenses. US Marshals Task Forces throughout the United States arrested more than 118,100 fugitives on felony charges.