7 NOPD Officers Indicted for Theft.

[JBP55]

NEW ORLEANS —
A New Orleans Police Department officer and a detective with the department were indicted along with five others for stealing more than $100,000 from the United States Army, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Chantelle Davis, an NOPD detective, and NOPD officer Lynea Sanders are accused of stealing from the Army by claiming reimbursement for the performance of military funeral honors ceremonies that never happened.
*We take allegations of this nature very seriously,* NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said. *We cannot allow the dishonest actions these officer are accused of to jeopardize the trust our citizens have in this department.*

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2000 authorizes military funeral honors for active-duty soldiers, retirees, and veterans.
At a family’s request, eligible persons can receive military funeral honors, including the folding and presenting of the United States flag and the playing of *Taps," according to a news release issued by the United States Attorney's Office.
According to the indictment, Christopher O'Connor, a former Army pay technician, submitted fraudulent reimbursement requests for military funeral honors that O'Connor, Davis, Sanders, Leory Daniels Jr., Derrick Branch, Cody Francis and Terrance Howard allegedly performed but had not.

The indictment said each person is accused of taking these amounts from the Army:

O'Connor, 40, $18,825.83
Branch, 36, $15,469.30
Daniels, 45, $11,693.87
Francis,31, $11,378.27
Davis, 35, $8,399.65
Howard, 54, $13,585.92
Sanders, 41, $22,505.35

All seven are former Army reservists in the 377th Theater Sustainment Command, New Orleans, according to the indictment.
All are residents of New Orleans except for Daniels who lives in Westwego.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of ten 10 years imprisonment, followed by up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The United States is seeking full restitution of all the stolen money, approximately $101,858.19.

The NOPD said Friday they were made aware of the federal investigation and began an internal investigation. The officers were placed on Administrative Reassignment Sept. 24th. They will remain on administrative assignment pending the outcome of the internal investigation and the federal trial.

 

[drill sgt]

Have these people no shame. As a Army veteran myself with several family members who are veterans I just do not understand how someone could do something like this to our veterans. they are the lowest of the low scum and They need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law with no compassion for the sentence plus full restitution. For several years was involved with the Patriout Guard Riders and we provided a Honor guard service for a veterans funeral if requested by the family after they were informed this was free of charge . Such as escorting from the funeral home to grave site, standing honor guard in the funeral home as well as the grave site, flag folding of the flag from the casket, to even stepping foward to be pallbearers if needed. ..........Sorry for getting on the soap box but some people will take advantage of anybody for many reasons to get money by any means be it legal or illegal. They did the crime ... Now let them do the time..... God bless our troops be they past/present/future. .................................. drill sgt.

 

[JBP55]

Have these people no shame. As a Army veteran myself with several family members who are veterans I just do not understand how someone could do something like this to our veterans. they are the lowest of the low scum and They need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law with no compassion for the sentence plus full restitution. For several years was involved with the Patriout Guard Riders and we provided a Honor guard service for a veterans funeral if requested by the family after they were informed this was free of charge . Such as escorting from the funeral home to grave site, standing honor guard in the funeral home as well as the grave site, flag folding of the flag from the casket, to even stepping foward to be pallbearers if needed. ..........Sorry for getting on the soap box but some people will take advantage of anybody for many reasons to get money by any means be it legal or illegal. They did the crime ... Now let them do the time..... God bless our troops be they past/present/future. .................................. drill sgt.

AMEN, and Thank You Sir!

 

[Magdump]

Dang.
Just dang.

I wonder what they were being paid for each supposed funeral. I’d like to know how many times they falsified the service and how many counts they’ll be charged with. Really a sad day for NOPD.

 

[JR1572]

Read the article. It’s 2 members of NOPD and 5 army folks. I’m not justifying the action of the NOPD folks but the title of the article is inaccurate and misleading.

All 7 involved should be ashamed of themselves.

 

[Magdump]

Read the article. It’s 2 members of NOPD and 5 army folks. I’m not justifying the action of the NOPD folks but the title of the article is inaccurate and misleading.

All 7 involved should be ashamed of themselves.

I don’t think anyone could justify the actions of any of them, regardless of their career choice. May they all receive just sentences if found guilty.

 

[Vigilante Sniper]

NEW ORLEANS —
A New Orleans Police Department officer and a detective with the department were indicted along with five others for stealing more than $100,000 from the United States Army, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Chantelle Davis, an NOPD detective, and NOPD officer Lynea Sanders are accused of stealing from the Army by claiming reimbursement for the performance of military funeral honors ceremonies that never happened.
*We take allegations of this nature very seriously,* NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said. *We cannot allow the dishonest actions these officer are accused of to jeopardize the trust our citizens have in this department.*

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2000 authorizes military funeral honors for active-duty soldiers, retirees, and veterans.
At a family’s request, eligible persons can receive military funeral honors, including the folding and presenting of the United States flag and the playing of *Taps," according to a news release issued by the United States Attorney's Office.
According to the indictment, Christopher O'Connor, a former Army pay technician, submitted fraudulent reimbursement requests for military funeral honors that O'Connor, Davis, Sanders, Leory Daniels Jr., Derrick Branch, Cody Francis and Terrance Howard allegedly performed but had not.

The indictment said each person is accused of taking these amounts from the Army:

O'Connor, 40, $18,825.83
Branch, 36, $15,469.30
Daniels, 45, $11,693.87
Francis,31, $11,378.27
Davis, 35, $8,399.65
Howard, 54, $13,585.92
Sanders, 41, $22,505.35

All seven are former Army reservists in the 377th Theater Sustainment Command, New Orleans, according to the indictment.
All are residents of New Orleans except for Daniels who lives in Westwego.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of ten 10 years imprisonment, followed by up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The United States is seeking full restitution of all the stolen money, approximately $101,858.19.

The NOPD said Friday they were made aware of the federal investigation and began an internal investigation. The officers were placed on Administrative Reassignment Sept. 24th. They will remain on administrative assignment pending the outcome of the internal investigation and the federal trial.

Only 2 were NOPD officers, the other 5 were National Guardsmen, all seven are in the Guard.

 

[JimmyJames]

"We cannot allow the dishonest actions these officer are accused of to jeopardize the trust our citizens have in this department."

I mean, between Katrina firearm confiscation and the 2005 Danziger Bridge incident, does anyone actually trust New Orleans law enforcement anymore? Or expect the courts won't give minimal sentencing?

 

[sportsbud]

No not in the guard that's a reserve unit....

 

[Saw]

Only 2 were NOPD officers, the other 5 were National Guardsmen, all seven are in the Guard.

Army Reserves. Not the LA National Guard.

 

[noob]

I hope they at least garnish any future wages to pay for this. Also I would be nice if they served some time.

 

[Kraut]

I'd call those two NOPD officers "the 'c' word" but they obviously lack the depth and the warmth. What a bunch of slime buckets! The sad part is, in today's society, they probably have no inner sense of shame over this, and their family and friends will mostly console them for losing their job and defend them as "not having hurt anyone" and "just taking the government's money."

There was a recent arrest nearby where a reserve or guard member was shoplifting while in uniform. I know what kind of Hell that would have brought down on someone in my unit, I just hope there's enough organizational pride left in their units that some stern adjustments are meted out on that end.

 

[thperez1972]

https://www.nola.com/news/crime_police/article_d955c4e4-aa81-5631-95c7-f4d88d87fe06.html

Look at picture 7. It appears Chantelle Davis and Lynea Sanders may be sisters.

 

[themcfarland]

would like to see them lose commission and serve time.. I doubt any of that will occur. they will pea down to theft by deception and agree to pay it back and nothing will be on record.
there IS a new DA there however so maybe if it hits state court instead of military it might still be something real..
I doubt it..

 

[rdass623]

if convicted of the felony theft, both officers should be terminated from employment. i am a little upset both both were mentioned as police officers. neither are accused of anything related to their performance of their duties as police officers, but still prominently listed as police. this article should have been listed as seven army reservists committed the theft, rather than NOPD officers. as a veteran of the army and a retired NOPD sergeant, to say i am displeased is an understatement, but this should not have been a smear hit piece on law enforcement...