Page 7 - ARUBA TODAY

A7
U.S. NEWS Monday 19 august 2019

4 Louisiana men

to plead guilty in

Miss. bribe scheme

By JEFF AMY the FBI. Private vendors sell
Associated Press phone calls and goods to
Four Louisiana men say prisoners.
they’ll plead guilty to Epps had a history of push-
charges that they tried to ing particular vendors,
bribe a Mississippi sheriff some of whom were brib-
with $2,000 in casino chips, ing him, according to au-
seeking lucrative jail con- thorities. Prosecutors say
tracts. Ventroy, a LeBlanc em-
Michael LeBlanc Sr. of Ba- ployee, delivered a $2,000
ton Rouge, Michael LeB- cash bribe to Epps later in
lanc Jr. of Prairieville, Ta- October 2014.
wasky Ventroy of Opelou- Then, Michael LeBlanc Jr.
sas and Jacque Jones of met with Kemper County
LaPlace have filed notices Sheriff James Moore. What
this month in federal court they didn’t know, accord- In an April 11, 2016 file photo, former Mississippi Corrections
in Jackson saying they will ing to the indictment, is that Commissioner Christopher Epps, right, walks to the federal
change their previous not Moore was working under- courthouse in Jackson, Miss., for sentencing over bribery
guilty pleas. cover for the FBI when he charges.
All are accused of schem- took $2,000 in casino chips Associated Press
ing to win contracts to sell from the younger LeBlanc his personal use, accord- The LeBlancs were never
inmates phone service in a Biloxi casino restroom in ing to published accounts. charged in Texas.q
and commissary goods at December 2014. The indict-
a jail in Mississippi’s Kem- ment alleges Moore was
per County. They’re also promised additional future
accused of paying for- bribes.
mer Mississippi Corrections The elder LeBlanc designed
Commissioner Christopher at least five jails in the state.
Epps $2,000 and promising Development of two jails
him future bribes to secure — in Alcorn and Chicka-
his help in influencing sher- saw counties — was spear-
iffs, especially those with headed by former state
regional jails overseen by Sen. Irb Benjamin. The ex-
the state. Epps was con- lawmaker acknowledged
victed of taking more than bribing Epps to ensure
$1.4 million in bribes from the state would provide
private contractors and enough inmates to make
is serving a nearly 20-year jails financially profitable
federal prison sentence in for the counties. Benjamin
Texas. remains in federal prison in
U.S. District Judge Henry T. Arkansas.
Wingate has set an Oct. 2 LeBlanc previously was an
plea hearing in Jackson for owner of private prison
the four men, who all re- company LCS Corrections
main free on bail. Services, selling it to GEO
The September indictments Group for $307 million in
were a long-delayed con- 2015. Of the price, $298 mil-
tinuation of the corruption lion went to repay debt,
investigation surrounding GEO financial documents
Epps. The conspiracy and show.
bribery charges would LeBlanc and his deceased
carry sentences of up to brother, Patrick, faced
15 years in prison. Court scrutiny in San Antonio in
papers don’t say to which 2007 over donations when
charges the four will plead. their company was provid-
The elder LeBlanc started ing commissary services.
out in the prison industry as The Bexar County sheriff re-
an architect, but branched signed and pleaded guilty
into other services and to misdemeanor charges
once was an owner of a after accepting a free trip
large private prison com- to Costa Rica from the LeB-
pany. Federal prosecutors lancs.
say the elder LeBlanc talk- The sheriff’s campaign
ed to Epps in October 2014, manager pleaded guilty
hoping to win contracts for to taking thousands of dol-
phone and commissary lars in charitable donations
services. By then, Epps was and campaign contribu-
already cooperating with tions, diverting $32,000 to