New Orleans Police and Judicial Corruption Saga Continues

Investigations by local and federal officials are uncovering a dynasty of nepotism operating within New Orleans’ judiciary system and the sheriff’s office. The probes have uncovered several cozy deals, and at least one former sheriff’s official has pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges.

A report by the New Orleans Office of Inspector General (IG) found that Municipal Court Judge Paul Sens has 18 relatives who currently work for or had worked for the court. The report said that “building a dynasty at the expense of the taxpayers of New Orleans creates an appearance of abuse that undermines public confidence in the judiciary and in our elected officials.”

Sens is the brother of John Sens, the former purchasing director for the Orleans Parish Sheriff. He recently pleaded guilty in a kickback and bid-rigging scheme. Currently, he is assisting federal authorities in their investigation.

In the fed’s crosshairs is DRC, a disaster-recovery company. Its founder, Robert Isakson, formerly ran the FBI’s New Orleans Office public corruption squad. DRC provided former Plaquemines Parish Sheriff Jeff Hingle and his driver, former deputy Brandon Mouriz, with football tickets, a banquet in Hingle’s honor, a business start-up loan, and BP oil spill cleanup payments. Hingle pleaded guilty in a separate bribery scheme and is cooperating with authorities.

Under scrutiny is DRC’s hiring of Crowley Consulting, LLC , in 2010 to manage the construction of a $9.6 million temporary jail for Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman, who is one of Judge Sens’ closest friends. Crowley Consulting’s lone officer is Dan Crowley, Sens’ nephew-in-law, who is also Sens’ court minute clerk.

For some time after Hurricane Katrina, Crowley worked for DRC. He left to work for Sens, earning $49,212 in 2010 to be the minute clerk for his wife’s uncle. Crowley founded his company in March, 2010, which is just three months before the sheriff’s office hired DRC. How he managed the jail project and filled his full-time clerking post is unclear.

When Crowley Consulting was founded, Ann Sens, Judge Sens’ wife, was listed as the company’s registered agent. Crowley replaced her in that role in February, 2012, which is about the time the sheriff’s office became aware of the federal probe. Crowley and Ann remain business partners in another company, AGS Sales Consultants. Judge Sens is an officer of that company.

Sens and Gusman have ties that go back to when they were top mayoral aides in the 1990s. They recently gained attention for hiring each other’s wives. Sens, as the then-Municipal Court chief judge, hired Ann in 2011 to fill one of the sheriff’s appraisers at nearly $73,000 annually.

The IG found no criminal behavior in those activities. “The actions taken by the Sheriff and Administrative Judge were within their respective legal authority. However, their actions created an appearance of impropriety, diminished confidence in the integrity of the criminal justice system and government in general, and deprived the public of the benefits of competition in public procurements.”

Sources close to the federal probe say the sheriff’s office gave DRC more than one ultimatum in fulfilling the jail construction contract. The demands, the source said, revolve around which subcontractors DRC would use.

                Source: Times-Picayune

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