Former Parish Attorney of Jefferson Parish Pleads Guilty to Superseding Bill of Information

NEW ORLEANS—Thomas G. Wilkinson, age 54, a resident of Jefferson Parish, pled guilty today to a superseding bill of information that charged him with conspiracy in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to documents filed in federal court, after Aaron Broussard’s election on October 4, 2003, but prior to his taking office as the Jefferson Parish president, Broussard, Wilkinson, Tim Whitmer, and another high-ranking Jefferson Parish official had a meeting to discuss creating a position for Broussard’s girlfriend, Karen Parker. Broussard wanted to secure a position for Parker prior to taking office because he knew there would be increased scrutiny as a result of their romantic relationship.

As a result of this meeting called by Broussard, Karen Parker was given the position of paralegal supervisor in Wilkinson’s Parish Attorney’s Office. Parker’s previous resignation was rescinded, and she was given a $48,000 yearly salary despite being unqualified and uncertified for the paralegal position. Within a few months, Parker was moved to the ID Management Department at the East Bank Regional Library, where she remained for over six years. Despite her transfer to ID Management, Parker retained her position and the higher salary of paralegal supervisor until her dismissal on or about February 5, 2010.

According to documents filed in federal court, Broussard, Wilkinson, and Whitmer all knew that Karen Parker was not performing the job of a paralegal supervisor, and yet they all allowed her to continue receiving her salary as a paralegal supervisor knowing that to do so was a fraud and a theft of taxpayer dollars.

Wilkinson faces a maximum penalty of not more than five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

Sentencing is set for February 25, 2013, at 1:30 p.m. before Senior U.S. District Judge Hayden Head.

The case was investigated by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division and were assisted by the Metropolitan Crime Commission.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Klebba, Matt Chester, and Daniel Friel.

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Former Jefferson Parish President Pleads Guilty

NEW ORLEANS—Aaron F. Broussard, age 63, a resident of Jefferson Parish and former two-term president of Jefferson Parish, entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit bribery, wire fraud, and theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, as well as an additional count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten, FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Anderson, and IRS-Criminal Investigative Division Special Agent in Charge James Lee. Broussard faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment as a result of today’s guilty plea.

Today’s guilty plea is the fifth conviction stemming from the government’s investigation into corruption in Jefferson Parish under the tenure of former Parish President Broussard. Previously, Thomas Wilkinson, the former parish attorney for Jefferson Parish; Timothy Whitmer, the former chief administrative officer for Jefferson Parish; William Mack, the owner of First Communications Company, a parish vendor; and Karen Parker, the ex-wife of Broussard, have all entered guilty pleas to various federal felonies.

Today, Broussard admitted in open court that he conspired with Whitmer, Wilkinson, Parker, and another Jefferson Parish official to steal taxpayer funds when he and others created a sinecure paralegal supervisor position for Broussard’s ex-wife. Documents filed in federal court conclusively establish that Broussard knowingly and illegally diverted taxpayer funds to his ex-wife in the form of her salary for over six years. Further, Broussard admitted that his wife did not even possess the most basic credentials or requisite experience to hold the position of paralegal supervisor. Moreover, Broussard, knowing of the illegal arrangement concerning his ex-wife’s sham employment, repeatedly sought to conceal the illegal nature of his her employment with Jefferson Parish through multiple material misrepresentations on bank documents, federal income tax returns, and on his State of Louisiana Annual Ethics Disclosure Reports. Broussard had his wife transferred to the ID Management Office at the East Bank Regional Library in an effort to hide the fact that she was not working for the Parish Attorney’s Office as a paralegal supervisor and was not performing any work as a paralegal. Broussard also admitted to illegally giving pay raises to Parish Attorney Tom Wilkinson.

Broussard admitted that his wife’s salary benefited him financially as well. In total, Broussard and his wife improperly diverted over $323,308 in salary over the period of six years, which was over $129,000 more than the individual who held the position of ID/security system coordinator.

In addition, Broussard admitted to receiving numerous bribes totalling over $60,000 while parish president. Specifically, Broussard sought and accepted bribes and payoffs from William Mack in exchange for Broussard’s assistance and intervention on Mack’s behalf. Broussard, while parish president, intervened for Mack in order to assist Mack in receiving parish contracts for telecommunications services and equipment, and Broussard attempted to conceal the relationship with Mack by creating a sham recusal letter. Previously, Mack plead guilty to paying bribes to Broussard for undertaking official acts to benefit Mack’s company.

Broussard faces a maximum penalty of not more than five years in prison as to count one, and 10 years as to count 27 of the second superseding indictment, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. In summary, Broussard could be sentenced up to 15 years in prison and fined $500,000. Broussard also faces substantial forfeiture related to his crimes as a result of today’s convictions.

Sentencing is set for February 25, 2013, before Senior U.S. District Judge Hayden Head.

Speaking to today’s conviction, United States Attorney Jim Letten stated, “Today’s conviction of former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard marks the fifth in a series of individuals convicted on federal felony charges arising out of an investigation which revealed the abuse of power in parish government designed to benefit public officials and not the taxpayers. The abuse of power and position by public officials has plagued this region and even the state for many years. Our tolerance of public corruption is zero. We will hold accountable under the law everyone who bears the responsibility of serving to the citizens in our democracy. We will not tolerate the fraud, waste, and abuses which have cost our people so dearly in terms of services, infrastructure, safety, and quality of life.

“My special thanks go out to our team of prosecutors and support staff from the United States Attorney’s Office, as well as the men and women of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the IRS Criminal Investigation Division and the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission.”

Michael Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation New Orleans Field Office, added, “I commend our public corruption investigative team and the USAO for their tireless efforts in untangling these complex and intertwined schemes of self dealing that betrayed the public’s trust.”

IRS Special Agent in Charge, James Lee, stated, “We are pleased that Aaron Broussard has accepted responsibility and entered a guilty plea for abusing his position as Jefferson Parish president. IRS-Criminal Investigation will continue to work with our federal partners to end political corruption in New Orleans.”

The case was investigated by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division and were assisted by the Metropolitan Crime Commission.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Klebba, Matt Chester, Daniel Friel, and Mimi Nguyen.

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Justice Department Intervenes to Protect Prisoners from Life-Threatening Conditions at Orleans Parish Prison in New Orleans

Parties Close to Settlement to Conclude Investigation and Begin Process of Jail Reform Overseen by a Federal Court

The Justice Department announced today that it has moved to intervene in a class action lawsuit regarding conditions of confinement at the Orleans Parish Prison (OPP), a pre-trial and correctional facility in New Orleans.   The litigation seeks to address conditions that violate the U.S. Constitution and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.   The department seeks remedies to correct inadequate medical, mental health care and suicide prevention practices; failures to protect prisoners from physical and sexual violence; deficiencies in environmental health and safety; and inadequate language access services for Latino prisoners with limited English proficiency (LEP). 

 The United States seeks to join as plaintiff-intervenors in Jones v. Gusman, class action litigation that the Southern Poverty Law Center has brought on behalf of the men, women and youth confined to OPP, to protect them from abusive and unconstitutional conditions of confinement.   Both Sheriff Marlin Gusman, who oversees OPP, and the plaintiffs to the class action support the United States’ motion to intervene, to achieve a single, comprehensive resolution of the class action and the United States’ investigation of OPP.   The department’s investigation, initiated in February 2008, was brought under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act and language issues under Title VI.

 “The Justice Department has longstanding, serious concerns about the conditions at the Orleans Parish Prison. The constitutional violations we found affect the health and safety of prisoners, corrections officers and the community,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.   “Transforming the operation of the prison is a key component of the overall reform of the criminal justice system in New Orleans. Although we have moved to intervene in the pending litigation, we are hopeful that we can reach a negotiated resolution of this case in the near future, and put in place a comprehensive blueprint for sustainable reform.   We will continue to work in an expeditious fashion with the sheriff, the city of New Orleans and the private plaintiffs on this important case.”

 “The government’s intervention in this case will facilitate much needed reforms at OPP in the fastest and most efficient manner,” said James Letten, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana.  “The men, women and youth at OPP will benefit greatly from the comprehensive reform sought in this important intervention.”

 The department issued findings in October 2009 and April 2012.   Throughout that time, the department was engaged in discussions with the Sheriff to develop a set of comprehensible and sustainable reforms.   Necessary reforms will require improved policies, procedures, staff training and supervision to ensure that OPP protects prisoners from violence and sexual assault by staff and other prisoners; provides adequate mental health and medical care, including suicide prevention; provides language services to LEP prisoners; and provides adequate fire and environmental safety.

 The department has been working for some time with the OPP and community stakeholders on this negotiated settlement and is confident that it will serve as a comprehensive blueprint for sustainable reform.   The department’s work with both OPP and the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) reflects its continuing commitment to reforming the criminal justice system in New Orleans and across the country.  

 Additional information about the Special Litigation Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division can be found at www.usdoj.gov/crt/split/index.html .

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