ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY JOHN SENS AND GERARD HOFFMAN PLED GUILTY TO BRIBERY CHARGES
A tip from an anonymous informant in 2009 eventually led to bribery charges against Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Deputies John Sens and Gerard Hoffman, as well as contractor Richard Molenaar, III for their role in a bid rigging scheme using fake vendors. Sens created a system in which three companies repeatedly applied for contracts with the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office where the lowest bid would receive the work. However, two of the companies were found to be fictitious resulting in a rigged bidding process. Sens and Hoffman received cash and other benefits in return for carrying out the rigged bidding scheme. Sens was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and ordered to forfeit $67,903.25. Due to health reasons, Hoffman was sentenced to 5 years probation and ordered to pay a fine of $25,000. Molenaar pled guilty and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and had to pay a fine of $20,000.
US Attorney’s Office Press Release – John Sens – February 26, 2013
US Attorney’s Office Press Release – Gerard Hoffman – February 26, 2013
US Attorney’s Office Press Release – Richard Molenaar, III – June 19, 2013
FIRE MARSHAL INSPECTOR CHARGED WITH MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE AND FILING FALSE PUBLIC RECORDS
After a deadly fire in Grand Isle, the MCC received a tip that a concerned citizen had complained to the State Fire Marshal’s Office about the Grand Isle apartment complex being a fire hazard. The complaint was assigned to Nunzio Marchiafava, an inspector in the New Orleans division of State Fire Marshal’s Office. He initially went out to the Grand Isle complex on April 2, 2012, but was unable to enter the building to conduct an inspection, and he left stating that he would return the following month. On September 26, 2012, the building caught fire killing two occupants. In reaction to the deadly fire, the inspector sent an email report indicating that he conducted a follow-up inspection in May of 2012 and found no fire hazards. The MCC referred the matter to the Louisiana Inspector General who examined mileage records and cellular phone records. The records indicated that the inspector was in New Orleans for the entire day he claimed to have conducted the follow-up inspection. As a result, Marchiafava, was arrested on a felony charge of filing a false public record. In November of 2013, the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office charged Marchiafava with malfeasance in office and filing false public records. At the conclusion of a judge trial, on April 12, 2019, Marchiafava was found guilty of attempted to file false public records.
State IG Arrest Warrant for Nunzio Marchiafava – April 23, 2013
LOUISIANA LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR REPORT ON ST. BERNARD CLERK OF COURT OFFICE
The MCC received a tip that St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court Lena Torres had been waiving fees for her son Sidney D. Torres III, an attorney in the parish. A detailed referral by the MCC was sent to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor who initiated an audit and found $174,000 in court filing fees that were not collected from Lena Torres’ son. The court filing fees are intended to fund the Clerk of Court’s Office as well as other functions within the court. The audit also revealed that Lena Torres-Nunez, Lena Torres’ daughter and Deputy Clerk of Court, destroyed bank deposit slips and receipts which make cash transactions untraceable due to lack of records. Lena Torres lost the election and was unseated as Clerk of Court. Lena Torres and Lena Torres-Nunez were both charged with ethics violations for giving special treatment to their son/brother in regards to filing filings with the parish.
Legislative Auditor Report for St. Bernard Clerk of Court – December 10, 2012
“Chief deputy clerk Nunez faces ethics violation charges” April 19, 2014; The New Orleans Advocate
TULANE LEGISLATIVE SCHOLARSHIP SCANDAL
In 1995, a problem emerged with Tulane legislative scholarships when it was learned that the Mayor of New Orleans awarded a scholarship to his son. Today, the process for the New Orleans mayor is open and transparent, but on the state level there has been no meaningful reform. The MCC received information about new improprieties from a concerned citizen advising us that State Rep. Harold Ritchie from Bogalusa awarded his Tulane scholarship to the son of St. Tammany Parish District Attorney Walter Reed. Additionally, we found Rep. Helena Moreno of New Orleans awarded her legislative scholarship to her campaign manager’s son who lives in Jefferson Parish. Also, State Sen. A.G. Crowe of Pearl River awarded a Tulane scholarship to the son of Richard Baumy who is the Chief Deputy for the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office and $2,500 campaign contributor. During the 2014 Legislative Session, several attempts at reforming the scholarship program were made, but all ultimately failed. In May 2014, Tulane University implemented changes to the scholarship program including making every Louisiana student accepted automatically eligible in the 2015-2016 school year and the University will disclose whether a scholarship recipient is related to a elected official, the name of the elected official, and the nature of their relationship.
Letter to Legislators – Tulane University Legislative Scholarship Program – October 2, 2013
“Tulane scholarship program still ‘insider’s club,’ some say” October 3, 2013; The New Orleans Advocate