During the recent federal government shutdown, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana continued its work on a range of criminal cases. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller highlighted twelve prosecutions that moved forward during this period, including charges and sentences in cases involving violent crime, child exploitation, drug trafficking, fraud, and terrorism.
“Our Office’s support staff and prosecutors remained committed to and focused on our mission to make this community safe alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners throughout the shutdown,” said U.S. Attorney Keller. “These dozen cases are just a sample of the impactful matters that our Office continues to prosecute, ranging from combatting child predators, to tackling violent crime, to prosecuting sophisticated frauds including bribery schemes and healthcare fraud. Our Office and partners will continue to stand firm and work tirelessly to make Louisiana a safer place to live, work, raise a family, and run a business.”
Among the notable cases:
– Boris Braggs was indicted for attempted enticement of a minor after allegedly arranging online to meet someone he believed was a 15-year-old girl for sex in exchange for money.
– Willie Lee Baker faced indictment related to fentanyl distribution resulting in death or serious injury.
– Brandon Jermaine Francisco pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in death; sentencing is scheduled for January 2026.
– Mahmoud Amin Ya’Qub Al-Muhtadi was arrested for alleged involvement in the October 7 Hamas-led terrorist attack against Israel.
– Three individuals were sentenced in connection with a Lafayette-area bribery scheme tied to the Pretrial Intervention Program.
– Charlie L. Simpson and Charles D. Gardner received sentences for bank fraud linked to check-kiting activities at their companies.
– Thomas Dewayne Dew was sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiring with others to distribute methamphetamine.
– Michael L. Riggins received over four years in prison and restitution orders following conviction for health care fraud involving durable medical equipment claims.
– Damario M. Lyons was sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy involving large-scale methamphetamine distribution.
– Lenzi Desormeaux Babineaux received prison time for wire fraud related to false claims submitted under a federal nutrition assistance program; two co-defendants await sentencing.
– Christopher Culton was sentenced after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography; authorities found illicit material on his phones following an investigation into his social media activity.
– Clarence Reginald Colar received ten years’ imprisonment after being found with child pornography while under supervised release.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Further information about these cases can be found at the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana (www.justice.gov/usao-wdla) as well as through court records available at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer.
For updates or additional details regarding these prosecutions or other activities by the office during the shutdown period, refer directly to official sources.
