KENNETH LAWSON, a 39-year-old resident of New Orleans and former Grants Manager at the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO), and AREION BANKS, a 33-year-old resident of Slidell, have been indicted for conspiracy to commit theft and bribery involving federal program funds. The indictment was issued on August 28, 2025.
According to the indictment, LAWSON worked in OPSO’s Grants Department from August 2022 until November 29, 2024. In this role, he could request grant payments and issue checks to subgrantees under grants received by OPSO. LAWSON met BANKS in March 2024. The two allegedly devised a scheme where LAWSON would use his position to steal checks intended for subgrantees and deposit them into accounts controlled by either himself or BANKS. In return, BANKS would pay bribes to LAWSON from the proceeds.
The indictment details that on or about August 12, 2024, BANKS paid LAWSON approximately $5,900 as a bribe following the diversion of about $15,000 from OPSO without authorization.
In another incident described in the indictment, on July 30, 2024, LAWSON incorporated “Williams James Assoc. LLC.” with the State of Louisiana and opened a business checking account for it at a Jefferson Parish financial institution. Despite Williams James having no legitimate relationship with OPSO or providing any services to it, LAWSON used his professional capacity at OPSO to request that the United States Department of Justice transfer $100,000 from an existing $3.907 million grant awarded to OPSO into the Williams James account without supervisors’ knowledge or approval. To make this transaction appear authorized, BANKS contacted the financial institution pretending to be an OPSO employee who approved it after receiving instructions from LAWSON.
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office was unaware of these actions and had not approved any such transactions.
“Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”
If convicted on these charges under Title 18 U.S.C., Sections 371 and 666(a)(1)(A)-(B), both defendants face up to five years in prison each as well as fines up to $250,000 per person.
“Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Department of Justice – Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson also expressed appreciation for the support provided by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.”
