DELGADO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEAN RESIGNS AMID MCC INVESTIGATION
At the conclusion of a four-month MCC investigation into mismanagement and inappropriate behavior of Delgado officials, long-time Dean of Delgado Community College’s West Bank Facility J. Berengher Brechtel resigned his position after nearly 20 years with the college. The investigation uncovered accusations of sexual harassment and misuse of Delgado’s resources for personal benefit.
UNRAVELING THE CANAL STREET CARTEL
Tips provided to the MCC resulted in two New Orleans area attorneys, Richard A. Cuccia and Thomas L. Grand, pleading guilty to felony federal charges of mail fraud, tax evasion, and failure to report a felony (misprison). These two attorneys were involved in the “Canal Street Cartel,” which comprised a sophisticated ring of attorneys and runners. The attorneys hired runners to go to the scene of car accidents to solicit clients and refer accident victims to sympathetic medical clinics. In addition to these convictions, dozens of runners were arrested who subsequently provided the information needed to obtain convictions against the attorneys.
NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT RECANTS OFFICER COMMENDATIONS, GIVES SUSPENSIONS AND TERMINATIONS
A tip to the MCC disproved two NOPD officers’, Officer Daniel Chauvin, Jr. and Brian Danigole, claim that they rescued a woman who had driven her car into the Morrison Road Canal in New Orleans East. The NOPD awarded the officers gold medals and $500 savings bonds as awards for their claimed heroics. However, the NOPD took back the medals and savings bonds and gave the officers nine-day suspensions based upon evidence that informant provided to the MCC showing that the officers arrived at the scene after a civilian had rescued the accident victim.
After the first incident became public, the MCC received a second tip regarding Officer Chauvin and Officer Danigole. The officers claimed that on February 4, 1999 they entered a smoke-filled building, rescued a lady, and lead her to safety. The officers were nominated for a department citation. A witness was located that disputed the intensity of the fire, the smoke conditions, and the officers’ rescue of the lady. The superintendent cited this incident as a second offense and terminated both officers. Their termination was upheld by the Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.
HARAHAN POLICE OFFICER FIRED FOR SELLING BODY ARMOR
Based upon a tip from the MCC, Harahan Police Officer Wiley Wood, IV was disciplined and Harahan Reserve Police Officer Lloyd Alphonso was fired for helping local rap artist Percy “Master P” Miller purchase 10 police body armor vests. With the use of Officer Wood’s law enforcement credential and Mr. Alphonso acting as a broker, Mr. Miller secured a nearly fifty percent discount on the vests. Officer Wood and Mr. Alphonso shared approximately $2,000 in profit from the sale to Mr. Miller.