JEFFERSON PARISH PLANNING BOARD MEMBER RESIGNS AMID MCC INVESTIGATION
Upon learning about an MCC investigation into his efforts to have land rezoned for his personal benefit, Mike Collura resigned his position with the Jefferson Parish Planning Board. Mr. Collura proposed measures that would have rezoned property adjacent to his and enabled a billboard to be erected on Mr. Collura’s land. Without the rezoning of the adjacent land, the billboard could not be erected. When the MCC forwarded its investigative report to the Jefferson Parish President, Mr. Collura resigned and the rezoning ordinance was terminated.
WESTWEGO COUNCILMAN FINED FOR ETHICS VIOLATION
The MCC received a tip and conducted an investigation, which found that Westwego Councilman Melvin Guidry had been selling items to the city through his private employer. The MCC turned its report over to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, and Mr. Guidry was found to be in violation of three sections of the Code of Governmental Ethics. The State Board of Ethics fined Mr. Guidry $1,500 for his violations.
ST. TAMMANY, COVINGTON FIRE CHIEF DISMISSED IN PAYROLL SCANDAL
Randy Piwets, Chief of the Covington Area Fire Prevention District No. 12, was fired as the MCC investigated accusations of payroll fraud within the department. Allegedly, full-time firefighters had been paying volunteer firefighters to work their shifts but were paying the volunteers less than they were being paid and pocketing the difference. Chief Piwets was also accused of using a fire department vehicle to attend an out of state NASCAR race and accepting free admission tickets to the racetrack infield. A vendor who recently sold apparatus to the fire department provided the free tickets to Chief Piwets.
ST. CHARLES PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY ARRESTED FOR COERCING MOTORIST INTO TAKING NUDE PHOTOGRAPH
Based upon an MCC investigation, St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Carroll Pete Thibodeaux was arrested for coercing a woman to allow him to take a photograph of her breasts in exchange for not arresting her for DWI. Individuals close to the case contacted the MCC, because the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office initially handled this case as an administrative matter and allowed Deputy Thibodaux to resign from the Sheriff’s office. After the MCC filed a report, the St. Charles Parish District Attorney initiated prosecution against Deputy Thibodeaux who pled guilty to charges of criminal mischief in 2002.