Political Illusions of the Cajun Mafia
This book examines “robust” political corruption in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. The book scrutinizes the transparency, schemes and co-conspirators involved in political corruption. It discusses how top elected officials use their power and public resources funded by local sales and property taxes to improperly target, retaliate and even maliciously prosecute the most ridiculous matters to further their personal agenda. The book examines in detail the types of public infringements involving corruption as well as the vast network of political connections to other various public schemes. The book is further evidence that political corruption in Louisiana is not only profound but more like organized crime controlled by mob bosses. Louisiana no longer will turn a “blind eye” and now demands zero tolerance for corruption and nepotism of elected officials.
This book examines “robust” political corruption in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. The book scrutinizes the transparency, schemes and co-conspirators involved in political corruption. It discusses how top elected officials use their power and public resources funded by local sales and property taxes to improperly target, retaliate and even maliciously prosecute the most ridiculous matters to further their personal agenda.
The book examines in detail the types of public infringements involving corruption as well as the vast network of political connections to other various public schemes. The book is further evidence that political corruption in Louisiana is not only profound but more like organized crime controlled by mob bosses.
Louisiana no longer will turn a “blind eye” and now demands zero tolerance for corruption and nepotism of elected officials.
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2012 • Leader <strong>of</strong> Conspiracy to Defraud ’L Auberge Casino in Lake Charles Sentenced in Federal Court<br />
Leader <strong>of</strong> Conspiracy to Defraud L’Auberge Casino in<br />
Lake Charles Sentenced in Federal Court<br />
Defendant Ordered to Pay $909,700 in Restitution<br />
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LAKE CHARLES, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that Charbel Tannous,<br />
34, <strong>of</strong> Katy, Texas, was sentenced on September 27, 2012, to 37 months in federal prison for conspiracy<br />
to commit wire fraud. Tannous was <strong>the</strong> leader <strong>of</strong> a group who conspired to defraud L’Auberge du Lac<br />
Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Patricia<br />
Minaldi, who also ordered Tannous to serve three years’ supervised release and to pay $909,700 in<br />
restitution.<br />
According to documents filed into <strong>the</strong> court record, Charbel Tannous; Constandi Lubbat, 55, <strong>of</strong><br />
Houston, Texas; Derrick Weldon, 44, <strong>of</strong> Lake Charles, Louisiana; and Stephen Mouton, 45, <strong>of</strong> Iowa,<br />
Louisiana, were all charged in an indictment filed June 22, 2011, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.<br />
In addition, Tannous was charged with seven separate counts <strong>of</strong> wire fraud. Tannous was <strong>the</strong> creator <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> scheme to defraud <strong>the</strong> casino. The scheme involved “rigging” roulette games by bribing Weldon<br />
and Mouton, who were dealers employed by <strong>the</strong> casino. The dealers permitted Tannous and Lubbat to<br />
place late bets at <strong>the</strong> roulette wheel. This procedure, known as “past posting,” allowed Tannous and<br />
Lubbat to place chips on <strong>the</strong> number knowing it was already a winner.<br />
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Tannous also forfeited approximately $50,000. FBI agents seized $10,000 in cash and almost<br />
$40,000 in cashiers checks when <strong>the</strong>y arrested Tannous at <strong>the</strong> Bush International Airport, Houston,<br />
Texas, when he was attempting to flee <strong>the</strong> U.S. en route to Beirut, Lebanon. There is no extradition<br />
agreement between <strong>the</strong> United States and Lebanon.<br />
Lubbat, Weldon, and Mouton have all previously pled guilty to <strong>the</strong> same charges. On September 6,<br />
2012, Judge Minaldi sentenced Derrick Weldon to five years’ probation and ordered him to pay<br />
$831,900 in restitution. Sentencing for Stephen Mouton is scheduled for October 18, 2012, and <strong>the</strong><br />
sentencing <strong>of</strong> Constandi Lubbat is continued without date.<br />
U.S. Attorney Finley stated, “We are very pleased with <strong>the</strong> court’s decision to give this defendant a<br />
significant prison term. The casino and <strong>the</strong> citizens were victims in this case. A portion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>its<br />
from <strong>the</strong> casino goes to <strong>the</strong> State <strong>of</strong> Louisiana and <strong>the</strong> Calcasieu Parish School Board. We will continue<br />
to partner with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to prosecute crimes <strong>of</strong> this<br />
nature and seek <strong>the</strong> maximum amount <strong>of</strong> prison time available.”<br />
The case was investigated by <strong>the</strong> Federal Bureau <strong>of</strong> Investigation-Lake Charles Resident Agency and<br />
<strong>the</strong> Louisiana State Police-Gaming Division with <strong>the</strong> assistance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Security Division <strong>of</strong> L’Auberge<br />
du Lac Casino. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James T. McManus.<br />
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