New Orleans – A former Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) employee, KENNETH LAWSON, 39, along with AREION BANKS, 33, both of New Orleans and Slidell respectively, have been indicted for conspiracy to commit theft and bribery concerning a program receiving federal funds. According to the indictment, Lawson, who worked as Grants Manager at OPSO from August 2022 to November 29, 2024, met Banks in March 2024 and conspired to steal checks made out to subgrantees by diverting funds into their accounts. On one occasion, Banks paid Lawson a $5,900 bribe for successfully diverting approximately $15,000. Additionally, Lawson incorporated ‘Williams James Assoc. LLC’ and directed $100,000 from a grant to this entity without authorization, while posing as an OPSO employee to approve the transaction.
LAWSON also controlled Williams James and used it to engage in digital transactions with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), directing funds to the entity’s account. Banks, in exchange for a share of the proceeds, posed as an OPSO employee to authorize the transactions, unbeknownst to his actual superiors. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson emphasized that the indictment is merely a charge and the guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, each defendant faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Department of Justice – Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with support from the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ginsberg is leading the prosecution in the Public Integrity Unit.
RELATED: Sheriff’s Office Employee Lawson Charged with Bribery Scheme
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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