MCC EXPOSES ETHICAL BREACH OF MANDEVILLE CITY COUNCILMEMBER
A tip provided to the MCC uncovered that Mandeville City Councilperson Jerry Coogan took a marked police car to visit his family in Florida two weeks after Hurricane Katrina. The MCC filed a complaint with the Louisiana Ethics Review Board based upon Mr. Coogan’s use of public property for personal reasons. In March of 2007, the Louisiana Board of Ethics notified Mr. Coogan that his use of the patrol car was unethical. Media accounts from Mr. Coogan’s unethical conduct led to complaints regarding additional violations in Mandeville that continue to be investigated and prosecuted.
ORLEANS PARISH CRIMINAL JUDGE SUSPENDED, RETIRES UNDER INVESTIGATION
In March of 2005, the MCC’s Research Program issued a report examining bail bonds, which found that Judge Charles Elloie accounted for a disproportionately high number of bail bond releases. After the report’s release, the MCC continued to scrutinize Judge Elloie’s bond reductions. Most notably, Judge Elloie reduced bonds for individuals arrested for pedophilia and possession of a stockpile of weapons, drugs, and money. He also issued bond reductions while attending a conference in Jamaica. After being suspended from his judgeship in October of 2006, Judge Elloie retired in June of 2007 while under investigation by the Louisiana Supreme Court.
NEW ORLEANS POLICE SERGEANT GUILTY OF FRAUD
In January of 2006, Informants contacted the MCC to report that New Orleans Police Sergeant Daryl Odom defrauded them by accepting payments to renovate their Katrina-damaged home and only partially completing the work. The MCC’s investigation determined that Sergeant Odom was on paid disability leave at the time he was doing construction work. The MCC forwarded our findings to the New Orleans Police Department, and the ensuing investigation led to Sergeant Odom’s dismissal and conviction for a federal charge of mail fraud in November of 2007.