FOLLOW THE MONEY

Sheriff Gusman’s Billion Dollar Deals

 We took a look at candidate Marlin Gusman’s Jail Industrial Complex

If one goes to the Louisiana Ethics Board website, it is easy to look at the dozens of campaign finance reports filed by Marlin Gusman, both for City Council and Sheriff over the past two decades. On Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, we called the State Ethics Board and casually asked if they had paper copies of candidate Gusman’s contributions and expenditures for all the missing years. She seemed genuinely surprised that there were either no links, or links solely to cover pages. On Thursday morning, I checked again: they were uploaded and linked on the site. 

So we consolidated the data for you, and this is what we found.

Who benefits from jail construction?

While many people, organizations, and political leaders have come out against jail expansion for years, it has been a constant fight against those who want a larger jail. This advocacy has been led by Sheriff Marlin Gusman, who fought against the 1,438 bed capacity ordinance that City Council passed a decade ago. Although the 7000-bed mega complex he sought was not built, and hundreds of millions of tax dollars went into building a jail that now holds under 800 people, the Sheriff has been the lead advocate of expanding the facilities that already exist. Currently, in public hearings regarding jail expansion, not a single person testified in favor of expansion; however, public dialogue is not the only way to influence public expenditures.

Jail Construction: Public Funds and Cost Overruns

  • $36,750 Grace Hebert Architects, Jerry Hebert (2006-21) (March 12, 2018: Signed $34m base-level agreement w/ lame duck Mitch Landrieu for Phase 3 of jail) (In 2020, paid State Ethics Board to settle allegations of nepotism and no-bids in prison construction)

  • $39,750 Sizeler Thompson Brown Architects, I. William Sizeler (2000-21)

  • $14,500 Woodward Design + Build (Paul Fower, Flower Holdings)

  • $11,850 Perez a Professional Corporation

  • $7050 Linfield Hunter & Junius Inc. (engineers, architects, surveyers) , Ralph Junius (2000-17)

  • $6750 Professional Service Industries PAC (architects) (2004Ar-11)

  • $7500 ECM Consultants, Oscar C. & Etelvina Valdes (engineering) (2000)

  • $7500 Montgomery Watson Americas, Inc. (MWH) (2000-09)

  • $6500 Camp Dresser Mckee (engineering, CDM Smith, corruption cases in India and Vietnam, Jefferson Parish) (2000-15)

  • $6500 Burk-Kleinpeter Inc. Architects (2000-17)

  • $6000 Circular Consulting, LLC, Brian Egana (2012-14), helped Ozanne Constuction with the jail contruction (OPSO budgets $250k for project management, down from $1.5m in 2017).

  • $6000 The McDonnel Group LLC, McDonnel Archer Western Joint Venture (Chicago, IL) (2009- (McDonnel Group received $144m contract to build the jail, hiring Grace Hebert and Sizeler as architects)

  • $4500 Archittrek, LLC (2010-)

  • $3000 Kerwin Julien, Julien Engineering, who built part of the new jail (unsure if related to Charles Julien, who made five donations of $250 each)

  • $3250 C & S Consulting (civil engineering)

  • $2500 Imre Hegedus (Architect) (2000)

  • $1000 Muhammad Danish, Bulbous Environmental and Logistics (2021)

  • $11,300 Schrenk & Peterson; Schrenk Endom & Flanagan (structural engineering) (2000-19)

  • $3600 Meyer Engineers LTD (2000-05)

  • $8750 Huseman & Associates LLC, Jeffrey Huseman (engineering, design)(2010-12)

  • $3300 Marrero Couvillion & Associates (construction engineering) (2000-06)

  • $24,500 Ozanne Construction, Dominic Ozanne (Cleveland, OH)

  • $15,000 Kendall Marquar (convicted in kickback scheme with OPSO) K & D Earthworks, Gulf State LLC, The Studio of Classique Vibe, LLC (Kendall’s wife)

  • $3500 DRC Emergency Services, Equipment Leasing LLC, Jeffrey Isakson (former NOLA FBI agent, bribery case with Plaquemines Sheriff) hired by Ozanne to build OJC, massive cost-overruns approved by Mike Gaffney, hired Crowley Consulting (Paul Sens’ family)

  • $1750 Landis Advisory LLC, Landis Construction (2000-06)

  • $3100 SELA Building & Construction Trades (2004-17)

  • $2000 Bradford Roberts (2000), Core Construction, Ratcliff Construction

  • $5000 Dependable Sheetmetal Co. Inc.

  • $5550 Hard Rock Construction LLC (2004-19)

  • $11,000 P&S Local 60 (2010-19)

  • $7450 Int’l Brotherhood of Electrial Workers (2011-21)

  • $5950 AFL-CIO (2000-21)

  • $5250 Union Local 406 (2000-14)

  • $8000 Roy Glapion, The Beta Group, Citywide Testing and Inspection(2006-16)

  • $15,500 Mike Gaffney, Gaffney & Gaffney, Hurndon & Gaffney (2005-17) approved cost overruns for OJC (OPSO has paid over $700k in past five years for construction project management; the $150m OJC was opened in 2016)

  • $10,000 AAA Elevators LLC (2008-10)

  • $5000 Dedeaux Plumbing (2008) part of Sens kickback scheme

  • $5000 Contract Labor (2004)

  • $15,000 Palmyra Electrical Contractors, John Killeen (2007-08)

  • $13,750 Jimmie Woods, Metro Disposal (2005-21)

  • $24,750 Richard’s Disposal and Alvin J. Richard (2000-14)

  • $43,000 River Parish Disposal, Weldon Frommeyer (2010-20) (OPSO pays $110k/yr for dumpsters)

The Dallas Connection

On August 5, 2018: Marlin Gusman (while not being allowed to manage the jail, after the federal court appointed a compliance director in his place) flew on Southwest Airlines to Dallas, “to meet supporters,” according to his expenses submitted to the Ethics Board. He booked a room at The Highland Dallas. It is just a few minutes from Javier’s Gourmet Mexicano, owned by Javier Gutierrez (who may be the same $10k donor below). Whatever his pitch was, it proved to be quite effective. 

Prior to that time, his initial Dallas-area supporters were part of the Securus / Evercom / Talton Holdings ‘jail phone’ corporate sphere. In 2009 Pamela West, a teacher in Plano (a Dallas suburb), married to Daron West, donated $1000. Then came the Figueroa Brothers, of Irving, in 2010; then Javier Gutierrez in 2014. By 2018, he had big time Dallas private investment firms all believing in Marlin Gusman, the sheriff of New Orleans.

  • $1000 Pamela West (Plano, TX) (2009)

  • $5000 John L. Davis (Plano, TX) (2018) (owner of Davis Custom Installations, general contractor incorporated in 2015)

  • $10,500 Securus (Dallas, TX) Rici Rawls (New Orleans field tech) (2011-21) (Has current jail contract, and owns JPay)

  • $3350 Ally Telecom Group LLC (Metairie) (2007-14), CEO Mitch Kalifeh was VP of Sales w/ Securus (Ally currently has contracts with 20 LA jails; partner of NCIC)

  • $4500 Network Communications Int’l Corp. (Longview, TX) (NCIC, jail phones) (2010-12)

  • $10,000 Alexandra S Bass, Kyle Bass, major GOP donor, Hayman Capital Management, Dallas, TX (2018-21)

  • $5000 Christopher Bass (Menlo Park, CA) (2018)

  • $5000 24th Parallel Holdings LP, Blake Jones (Hayman Capital, Pine Bliss LLC)(2018)

  • $5000 24th Parallel Holdings LP (Dallas, TX) (2018) (Pine Bliss LLC, Blake Jones)

  • $9000 Barry Blanton, Julie Blanton Colt WTX, Dallas, TX (energy exploration) (2021)

  • $8000 Clifford Weiner, Preston Hollow Capital (Dallas, TX) major GOP donor (2018-21)

  • $10,000 James McKenzie, Texas Ranch Outfitters (online firearms sales) (Quitman, TX) (2021)

  • $10,000 Toby Piper Investments, Elan Sasso (2018-21)

  • $5000 Joshua Dunlap (Auto Remarketing Services, Hargrove Investments)(Dallas, TX) (2021)

  • $10,500 Bradley and Mary Hatcher (Dallas, TX) (2018-19) (MBH Partners; glendonTodd Capital)

  • $5000 Alecia McDowra (Dallas, TX) (2018)

  • $5000 Peregrine Pacific LP (Fort Worth, TX) (2018)

  • $10,000 Dallas Auto Exchange, William Crockett Gambrel (Dallas, TX) (2020-21)

  • $15,450 Ray’s Hardware & Sporting Goods, Major Donnie Durbin (firearms sales) (Dallas, TX)

  • Blue Star Land LP (Jerry Jones financial empire)

  • $5000 Beverly Hickman (wife of Joe Hickman, Blue Star)

  • $2500 Correctional Food Services (Dallas, TX)

  • $6000 Figueroa Brothers (Irving, TX) (2010-12)

  • $10,000 Javier Gutierrez (Dallas, TX) (2014)

The Inner Circle

From outside of the inner circle, these people all appear to be Gusman’s primary people. Each has wielded considerable power of finances or/and information. As the Chief Administrative Officer in the Morial Administration, and then as a City Council member, Gusman knew more about the jail budget, lack of oversight, and government contracts than he would ever know about managing people in pre-trial detention. They are merely “product,” as he explained recently in the Gambit, and only further exploited in the Jailbirds Netflix propaganda that backfired. He is likely unaware that two of the stars on Jailbirds have since passed away, following their release from his jail.

Accounting firm Postlethwaite & Netterville are paid $125k/yr to conduct an audit of OPSO’s books. They are paid far less, but also submit Gusman’s campaigns, and have since the outset when one of their prinicpals was part of the three-person Gusman campaign committee filed with the state of Louisiana.

  • $58,800 Usry, Weeks & Matthews, T. Usry (formed the Marin Gusman Campaign Committee in 2005), 501 Property LLC, Sonja Usry, Freeman Matthews, Karen Matthews, former employer of Blake Arcuri [OPSO also pays two other firms for legal services]

  • $10,700 Rodrigue & Arcuri, Law Offices of Blake Arcuri, Blake Arcuri is OPSO General Counsel (Laura Rodrigue is former D.A. Leon Canizarro’s daughter); Arcuri spent 7 years with Usry, Weeks & Matthews (subject to their own inquiries about millions in payments from OPSO); Arcuri spent a year working for Canizarro

  • $3900 John Sens, infamously convicted OPSO purchasing director, and brother of Judge Paul Sens, who swapped wives in hiring for jobs neither was qualified for

  • Judge Paul Sens (co-worker w Gusman in Morial Administration) (Billy Short, Gerard Hoffman part of OPSO’s kickback scheme)

  • $44,000 Bobby Major, Major Services, Brittany Major (2011-21) GUILTY (Sonia Badon, worked for Major Services 19 years, served (serves?) as Gusman’s campaign bookkeeper (OPSO paid Major Services over $5m in the past five years for “technical data services.” OPSO also pays Oracle $35k for IT).

  • $4350 Roy Austin, OPSO Colonel, Austin Sales and Service, convicted in 2016 fraudulent security details w OPSO staff (2010-14)

  • $41,000 Alden McDonald, Liberty Bank (2000 – 2019)

  • $10,100 Leslie Bonano, former OPSO, boxing promoter and associate with reputed organized crime and mob figures; denied gaming license in 2002 (2011-21)

  • $11,400 The Ehrhardt Group, public relations ($220k from OPSO in 2019, $205k 2020, $220k budget 2021)

  • $3500 Tangy Verret, Admin. Assistant to Chief of Operations 2006-12; Admin Asst. to Chief of Corrections 2013-present (2007)

  • $900 Commander Eric Donnelly 5 @$100, 2 @$200 (2007-16)

  • $3800, Peter J Fosco, PJF Ltd, (2000-14)

  • $4050 Frank Serio (2000-19)

  • $16,260 William Short, part of OPSO kickback scheme (2005-09)

  • $1100 Edwin Hosli, Jr. implicated in both NOPD and OPSO scandals before resigning

  • $8400 Chief Earl Weaver Jr gave nearly $500 every time (2010 – 21)

  • $2500 Dan Crowley, Crowley Consulting LLC, nephew-in-law (Sen’s court clerk) (2011)

  • $7500 NOLA Appraisals LLC (Ann Sens, then Dan Crowley company) (Wife Ann Sens earned $73,000 from OPSO in 2011 under Crowley Consulting. Judge Sens hired 18 relatives to work in his court)

  • $2300 Caroline Sens (2008)

  • $3600 Janice C Taylor, Judge C Hearn Taylor (donated $1k) wife, unlicensed appraiser who was paid $84,750 by OPSO for appraisals (2010-12)

  • $25,500 Richard Molenaar, Ricky’s A/C Inc., Custom Carpentry & Renovation; Edna Molenaar (2006- 2010) GUILTY CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT BRIBERY

  • $9850 Karen Ursin (First City Court administrator), Gerald Ursin, PLED GUILTY to wire fraud while in his role as OPSO Chief Deputy (2010-15) [First City Court= evictions and foreclosures)

  • $23,250 Raymond Schlaudeker (Ursin Son in law), Metro Services, scandal involving office supply contract w OPSO

  • $5000 Pampy’s Live Oak Bar Stanford “Pampy” Barre and Barbara Barre) Feds probe he kimmed $1m from city contract ; 5 years in prison; former NOPD detective partner w Bill Schultz; (Schultz spent a year in prison) worked with Gusman in Morial Administration.

The Jail Contracts(?): More Incarceration = More Profit (Medical, Food, Laundry, Phones)

Although some of these people and businesses are openly documented as making money off incarcerating people, mostly during pretrial detention, others are likely contractors or had been seeking a contract. (There is no rule preventing a major donor from getting a contract with the Sheriff). Some donors may have multiple angles to make money (i.e. debris removal, jail trash contract, and real estate investments), and some donors are listed elsewhere (namely, Securus, the phone contractor and ultimate predator of families’ need to communicate).

Gusman has come under fire for his massive health care contract with Wellpath, but it seems there is less scrutiny regarding leasing Motorola Equipment, pharmaceutical prescribers and sales, high-priced jail commissary items, and a massive vehicle fleet that needs to be leased and serviced.

Looking at the 2021 proposed budget, and considering the jail is only at about half-capacity, one can guess how the numbers would inflate if it were full, and if they were to further expand the facilities under the newfound rationale of “mental health.”

  • $3000 - Dr. Charles M Higgins has an alternative work address of 2800 Gravier, as the Director of Psychiatric Services at OPSO, and also working for Covington Behavioral Health and Jefferson Oaks Behavioral Health. (2010-14)

  • $4200 OPSO Credit Union (2005-21)

  • $2000 Dr. Carl M Reddix, Health Assurance (2014) was convicted in Mississippi, and sentenced to 6 years in Federal prison for bribing state DOC officials in exchange for prison medical contracts.

  • $10,000 Correct Health LLC (Stockbridge, GA), Benny Musso, Marketing Consultant Robert Ryhne (jail contractor since 2014, renamed as Wellpath, $18m/year from OPSO)

  • $6400 Gilbert Zilner (Diamond Pharmacy Services, Diamond Drugs- corrections pharmacy) (Indiana, PA) (2004-10)

  • $2000 Correct Care PAC (Nahville, TN) (2018) (Correct Care Solutions, renamed Wellpath, has had OPSO medical contract since 2014)

  • $4500 Tulane Drug Analysis Laboratory, Jeffrey Mendler (2009-14)

  • $2500 Lishunda Franklin (Crescent City Pharmacy; LMF Investments) (2021)

  • $4750 Charles M Higgins, Director of psych services OPSO, Covington Health (2004-12)

  • $5000 Inmate Calling Solutions LLC (San Jose, CA) (2004-06)

  • $16,700 Tomba Communications & Electronics, Inc. (2004-18)

  • $3800 Broadband Communications, John Rupert (2007 -21)

  • $2000, City Telecoin, jail phones and video visits (2014)

  • $5000 August & Lisa Diggs Walker (D & W Waste Management) (2004)

  • $3000 Waste Management Service Center (Houston, TX) (2004)

  • $7200 Star Auto Glass Inc (2004-21)

  • $9650 American Police Equipment, Ernest Burguires (2005-2021

  • $59,500 Guillot’s Sanitary Supplies, Inc., Anna Guillot, Becky Pitfield (2006-16),

  • $10,000 Dick Burke (sales) (2010-19)

  • $26,300 Kelley and Abide, (custom OPSO uniforms) (2010-14)

  • $5600 Vehicle Parts & Equipment Co, Inc. , Charles Lulei (2004-19)

  • $14,750 A & L Sales, Inc. (janitorial supplies, Peter Traigle)

  • $1000 Roshon Cody, Summit Food Services (2021) (OPSO paid $1.8m last year)

  • $12,500 Charles Niell, Tiger Commissary (Jonesboro, AR) (2011-21)

  • $13,300 Diamond Food Distributors, Inc. (2005-09)

  • $600 Keefe Commissary Network LLC (2005, 2015-16)

  • $13,900 Institutional Services & Consultants, Inc. (Tommy Touchet)

  • $2500 Kendal Ball (KLB Corrections Consulting) (2009-14)

  • $4350 Logo Express Marketing Inc. , Raju Sadhwani, (screenprinting and embroidery) (2004-21)

  • $2500 Louisina Workforce LLC (work release program, St. Francisville), owned by Paul Perkins, former business partner w/ James Leblanc and Burl Cain (2010)

  • $8500 Xpress Ray, Inc. (diagnostic services) (2004-14)

  • $2700 Ramelli Janitorial Service (2000, 05)

  • $11,700 Chiesi Brothers Meat Packing Co. Inc. (2005-09) (food for the jail)

  • $2250 A Shalom Health Service LLC (2010-19) Annual contract to screen employees (roughly $30k) We could not find such a business by this name, but there is a A Shalom Home Restoration Service LLC, registered at the same address (business address in Delaware) to Dr. Walter Watson

  • $12,200 D & S Steering Service Inc., David Springer (2004-21) ($237k from OPSO in 2020, for vehicle repairs)

  • $6900 Morris & McDaniel, Inc. (background screening for law enforcement personality, etc. specializing in personality testing to avoid workplace disruption) (Jackson, MS) (2008-14) (OPSO pays $25k for “testing services for employment”)

Lawyers, Real Estate, Repo Man, Auctions, and Money

OPSO is the court enforcer in regards to bank repossessions and foreclosures. This results in not only towing vehicles away, but car auctions, evictions, estate sales, and foreclosure auctions. OPSO’s proposed 2021 budget nets $3.6m in fees and commissions, down from over $5m in 2017. A massive amount of property is exchanging hands, which requires appraisals, titles, and money. 

OPSO is also under a federal consent decree, which requires the court’s monitors to provide quarterly inspections to indicate progress (or not) on specific factors of jail conditions. This can be common within old dilapidated buildings around the country, or where there is a patten and practice of poor behavior. In this case, Gusman’s inability to improve conditions resulted in him losing control of the jail for 4 years. He could not have lost too much control, however, as he was still able to orchestrate the filming of Jailbirds, of which the goal was clearly to frame OPSO in a positive light, while denigrating and exploiting the women who were in pretrial detention. Although he has since said he “kicked them out,” he continued collaborating on the project during COVID, and the series was later released without any objection from Gusman.

  • $17,500 Chehardy Sherman Williams Murray, James Williams, lawyers with Arcuri and Usry on Consent Decree (2017-19) ($130k from OPSO in 2020)

  • $10,600 Rudy Smith Service Inc. (hosts weekly auto auctions, although rarely in the past months, as cars get pulled back by OPSO) (2000-14)

  • $13,500 Al Copeland Investments, Inc.: (2004 -19)

  • $2000 Iberia Bank Louisiana PAC (2010-12)

  • $23,000 B & A Insurance Agency, Gary Burke ($2000)

  • $5500 Benoit & Associates (insurance underwriters) (2008-09)

  • $10,500 Michael A Schexnayder (Sugarland, TX) (2014-17)

  • $6250 Global Parking Systems (Ronald, Jason, Sheila Burns; Burns Mgmt Group) (2004-18)

  • $6000 Brent Laliberte, Bayou Title (2004-21)

  • $4550 Herbert J Richardson Sr, OPSO Appraiser (2009-14)

  • $10,500 Herman Herman & Katz, Stephen Herman

  • $5450 Frank Stire, Montgomery Stire Partners, in appraisal scandal

  • $1000 Pin Oak Holdings (San Francisco, CA) received $100m local investment to build a terminal in Mt. Airy, LA (2016)

  • $1000 Prudential Title Company ($1000)

  • $9200 Peter Hamilton, attorney (2000-19)

  • $3700 Morel Yorsch LLC (Nola Title Company, My Tax Sale Resources LLC) (2011-17)

  • $10,000 Rachele & Tim Richardson (161 Holdings, LLC, 1506 LLC, 4653 LLC, Place 1085 LLC) (Madisonville, LA) (2004)

  • $26,375 John Khoury CPCU, Broker Resources (insurance underwriter)(2008-21)

  • $4750 Foley Judell partners Harold Judell, Meredith Hathorn, C. Grant Schlueter (public bond attorneys):

  • $1750 Wayne Clark, Clark Consulting Services, CCS Realty (2016-19), former Director of Housing (1994-02)

  • $5100 Chaffee McCall Phillips Toller & Sharpy

  • $5000 CDC Investments, LLC (Chad David Haydel) (2006)

  • $20,250 Sidney Torres, Donecio Investments, Saro LLC, Inc. FQ IV Holdings, IV Capital LLC (2000-21), $5k in 2021

  • $31,500 Legend Consulting Services LTD, Energy Resources Consulting Group, Joseph Vumbaco, Joseph Rogers (Denver, CO) (2004-17) Decades long contract to provide regulation of Entergy for City Council

  • $15,000 True Title, John Holmes (2004)

  • $5000 Citizens Union Bank (Shelbyville, KY) (2018)

  • $1400 Donald Boyle, Blanchard and Company Inc. (2014) coin dealer

  • $8150 Donna Swanson, Gregory Swanson, Swanson $ Associates, Inc. (2000-21)

  • $5400 Julie, Vance, Geraldine Vaucresson, Vaucresson Sausage Co., allegations in appraisal scandal (2000-20)

  • $10,00 Denet Towing Service, Jeffrey Denet (Boothville, LA) (2010,2014)

  • $13,100 Intercoastal Marine Repair Co., LLC, Sammy Zito, Zito Towing (2005-06)

  • $5000 Kenneth H Lobell (real estate developer) (2000-2014)

  • $6000 Mark B Kline (insurance agent) (Little Rock, AR)(2006-21)

  • $2500 Monroe Carrell (Central Parking) (2000)

  • $2750 Global Parking Systems LLC, Burns Management Group, Ronald Burns (2010-17)

That Yacht Club Life, GOP SuperDonors, Randos and Lagniappe of Interest

This grouping includes people who likely belong in another category. Big monied people with diversified portfolios may have an interest in the OPSO machinations, or may just be golfing buddies with Gusman, and they see $5000 as little more than tipping the doorman. Among the donors are a swath that seem affiliated with boats, from superyacht builders, to tug boats, to something else; but the sinking lands south of New Orleans are well represented in his donor base.

  • $45,000 Amy Chouest Crosby daughter of billionaire luxury yacht builder Gary Chouest, Jace Crosby, Pauline Crosby, Gary Crosby (Galliano, LA; Cut Off, LA) Shannon Chouest, Laney Chouest; Ruth Sladovich (2004-06);

  • $10,000 Don Duet, Kellie Duet (Galliano, LA) (2006)

  • $9000 Baldassare and Michelle Mannino, Kingman LLC, DDB Enterprises (freight trucking) (2007-18)

  • $4500 Anthony Marullo (2016-21)

  • $7500 Ashton Marine LLC (2004-06)

  • $6000 River Birch Inc., Fred Heebe (top Trump donor), Jefferson Parish corruption scandal (2010)

  • $5000 Louis Gurvich, LA GOP Chairman, New Orleans Private Patrol Service, Inc. (2014)

  • $8550 Double M Feed, LLC, Strander Real Estate Holdings LLC, Gerald Senner (major GOP donor)

  • $8500 Evan Trestman (top Trump donor)(2009-

  • $2500 Joseph C Canizaro (top GOP donor) 2000

  • $3500 Barcadia Bar and Grill; Billy Blatty

  • $2250 Randall Richard (Coleyville, TX) (2006-08)

  • $12,250 Calvin Fayard, Jr., Francis Fayard (2004)

  • $5000 G. Peter Sladovich (2006)

  • $5000 George Cella III (subject to multiple suits, bankruptcy) (2006)

  • $15,700 Daniel Lombard (2004-10)

  • $5000 David Trahan & Associates (2009)

  • $50,000 Dartlaw LLC, Henry Dart, Triple D, LLC (2004-06)

  • $6450 Acadian Ambulance Employee PAC (Richard Zuschlag, top Trump donor) (2004-10)

  • $34,750 D A Exterminating Co., D A Marine Fumigation, Inc.(2000-08)

  • $2500 Airport Management Consultants (2000)

  • $5000 Chris Wisecarver (2004)

  • $5000 Creole Candles & Comforts (2006)

  • $10,000 Alicia Hassinger (2004)

  • $2500 Norma Cannizzaro, CLLC LLC (2021) Leon’s wife

  • $2700 CPC Consultants, LLC, Christopher Coulon (2000)

  • $2400 Craig McGehee Sr (2010-12)

  • $1800 Crescent City Consulting, Marlon Defillo (2014-19) (former deputy chief of NOPD)

  • $8500 John & Dethel Georges (2000-21) Times-Picayune, The Advocate, Lucky Coin Machine

  • $2500 Dinah Borras, Metarie (2000)

  • $3000 Diverse Consulting, Inc., Thibodeaux (2012)

  • $4750 DVA/HC PAC, David Voelker Associates PAC, (Mobile, AL)(2000)

  • $2500 Earl Weber & Associates (2000)

  • $5000 Elkland, Inc., Billy Nungesser (2014)

  • $8000 Energy & Resource Consulting Group (Denver, CO) (2011-17) (connected w/ Legend, the Entergy oversight contractor?)

  • $4225 J Van Robichaux (2004-21)

  • $5600 James J Coleman, Jr. (2014, 17)

  • $2500 Jason Cantrell (2006) husband of Mayor Cantrell

  • $10,100 KB PAC, Inc (Suchitra Satpathi, The Advocacy Partners )Robin Rhodes (wife of Christian Rhodes, Pelican State Partners; John Koch, director of Prison Inmate Chapels of Louisiana, Inc., with Jimmy Field (2016-21)

  • $5450 KD Gretna LLC, Wayne Ducote (top GOP donor) (2011-19)

  • $2500 Kirk Landry, V.P. Gov’t relations Florida Marine Transportation (2021)

  • $4500 Lambert Advisory LLC (Miami, FL) (2000, 2004)

  • $8300 Patricia S Leblanc, Pailet Meunier and Leblanc, Butler Law Firm, Leblanc Butler, Carl Butler (former Chair of LA Attorney Discipline Board) (2000-19)

  • $11,500 Louie J. Roussel III (2006-17)

  • $2500 Louisiana Weekly Publishing Co. (2011)

  • $6250 Lupo Enterprises, Robert Smith Lupo, real estate (2000-21)

  • $2700 Marco Outdoor Advertising (2010-12)

  • $11,0000 Michael G Kaplan (Justice Executive Protection and Security Consultant, LLC) (2004, 2006, 2010)

  • $3500 Minacore Investments (Vincent Marcello) (2000)

  • $6100 Pelican Ice, The Hutchins Corporation (Arthur Renaudin) (2006-09)

  • $4500 Paul Valteau, Orleans Parish Civil Sheriff, 1982-2010; (2000)

  • $3500 Quarter View Restaurant (2017-21)

  • $12,500 R & S Corporation (2006-10)

  • $3000 Randy, Ryan Becnel (Vacherie, LA) (2007-10)

  • $3150 William Lazaro Jr. (2008-16)

  • $5150 William Detweiler, J.D., First City Court Constable ’79-’96, Maureen, Elite Livery (2014-17)

  • $6000 Ronald Burke (2004, 08)

  • $10,700 Roger Thayer, Champion Offshore Boat Service, Trans Atlas Boats, Tramp, Inc. (2004-11)

Protection and Partying around the French Quarter

$12,500 Joe Jaeger, Melrose Mansion, J Collection Hotels French Quarter Hotel, Michael Dezura (gen. mgr) (2000-2019)

  • $4000 Khodr Investments, LLC (Hicham Khodr, Camelia Grill, Byblos owner) (2006, 2014)

  • $5500 Freedom First LLC, Kirkendoll Global Holdings, Timothy Spratt, John Kirkendoll (2017) (owner of Penthouse clubs)

  • $12,250 Wassek Badr aka Moe Bader Cajun Bourbon, Cajun Conti (2011-16)

  • $4250 from Fouad El-Jahari (Belle’s Diner / Lebanon Grill)

  • $1250 from Johnny White’s

  • $13,500 from Franco Valobra and his jewelry store

  • $2500 Maqbool Ibrahim, indicted on a tax fraud scheme to not report cash receipts (2021)

  • $3000 Fouad Zeton, Magnolia Mansion, raided by FBI (2017)

The Loyalists

$400 Alvin Lopez gave four $100 donations (2009-14);

  • “C.” Rubio gave $100 in 2014; (“Christine” Rubio, of Slidell, gave $100 in each of 2011 and 2013)

  • $800 Capt. Chaz Ruiz, eight $100 payments from 2009-21

  • Corey Amacker made one $100 payment (2014)

  • Capt. D’Juana Bierra, made four $100 payments (2011-15)

  • Daphne Powell, three $100 payments (2009, 2014, 2019)

  • Danny Ellis $100 (2014)

  • $1800 Elaine Frantz, 13 payments (2004-2019), also donated $100 to Sheriff Charles Foti (2003)

  • Demetra Moore, three $100 payments (2011, 13, 14)

  • Kaja Harrell, three $100 payments (2010-14)

  • Inga Barre Williams, four $100 payments (2014-19)

  • Kaleena Burras three $100 payments (2011-14)

  • $250 Deputy Jamil Champagne (2009-19)

  • Latoya Armwood $100 (2014)

  • $1350 Chris Thorne, ten payments (2005-16)

  • Melvin Collins $100 (2014)

  • $2500 Cpt. Jack Bettis Sr., four payments, plus $2k in 2021

  • $2300 Jeffrey Vappie (2005-19)

  • $350 Melvin Sparks (2009-14)

  • Merlin Pitts, three $100 payments (2010-14)

  • $2150 Don Ditta, in 13 payments (2009-19)

  • $800 Rochelle Lee, $200 in 2007; six $100 payments (2008-14)

  • Floyd Stevenson, two $100 payments (2014-15), sued in Vega v. Gusman (2021) for excessive force and theft of property

  • Michelle Johnson, one $100 payment (2015), sued in Vega v. Gusman (2021) for excessive force and theft of property

  • Rynika Stewart, three $100 payments (2011-13)

  • $700 Tyrone Bickham (2005-14)

  • $2750 Philip Baptiste, Snellville GA (2006-10)

  • $1950 Major Kevin P. Winfield (2005-19)

  • $1200 Lt. Eric Duncan (2007-19)

  • $1000 Dwayne Washington, ten payments (2009-14)

  • Monique Filmore, four $100 payments (2009-14)

  • $1450 Philip Barre (2011-19)

CAMPAIGN FUNDS (other people’s campaign funds, donated to Gusman)

  • $11,750 Erroll Williams Re-election Campaign (current Orleans Tax Assessor)

  • $6750 Newell Normand

  • $4200 Jim Donelon

  • $3000 James J Pohlmann Campaign Fund

  • $2500 David Heitmeier

  • $2500 Mike Tegre

  • $2000 Jared Brossett

  • $1000 Dale Atkins

  • $1000 Dr. Jerry H Rosenberg

  • $1000 Phil L Capitano

  • $650 Jack Stevens

  • $500 Anthony L Buras

  • $500 Jeff Hingle

  • $500 Lonnie Greco

  • $500 Warren Keith Hinkley

  • $450 Joel Chaisson II

  • $250 Jonathan Liberto Campaign (+$750 as private citizen)

  • $250 Foster Campbell

  • $250 John Alario

  • $250 Kim Liberto

  • $200 Ellen Hazeur

  • $200 Janyce Degan

  • $100 Nita R. Hutter


EXPENDITURES

Most campaigns raise funds to then put into a campaign workers, headquarters, printing costs, video production, and things of that nature. As a long-time incumbent, campaigns (and fundraising) can look differently than for a challenger. And not just in the amounts.

Paid-for-Endorsement Mailings

Independent organizations are free to make endorsements as they see fit. Interestingly, some politicians in New Orleans pay for that endorsement to be put in the mail to voters. 

  • $33,430 Alliance for Good Government

  • $25,000 BOLD

  • $17,500 Algiers PAC

  • $15,000 Regular Democratic Organization

  • $9500 OPDEC

  • $7800 Young Adults Political Association

  • $6000 Pat Bryant

  • $5000 Independent Democratic Electors

  • $5000 Southern Organization for Unified Leadership

  • $5000 Louisiana Democratic Party

  • $4500 Lake Area Voters Association

  • $4200 NAACP New Orleans

  • $4000 Norman Robinson

  • $3000 Democratic Organization of Voters

  • $3000 L & S Professional Services (ballot- 2014)

  • $2500 The Quest Group

  • $2000 Concerned Leadership Organization

  • $2000 Ninth Ward Concerned Citizens

  • $1700 Urban League

  • $1600 SAVA- Spanish American Voters Alliance

  • $1000 Independent Concerned Citizens

  • $1000 I.D.E.A. LLC

  • $1000 Herman Metoyer

  • $600 7th Ward Civic Political & Improvement League

  • $450 Independent Women’s Organization

  • $200 Democratic Beavers Inc

  • $200 New Orleans Coalition

Galas, Awards Dinners, Golfing (a sampler)

Independent organizations are free to make endorsements as they see fit. Interestingly, some politicians in New Orleans pay for that endorsement to be put in the mail to voters. 

  • $41,450 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation

  • $500 100 Black Men Metro New Orleans

  • $170 Abundant Life Tabernacle FGBC

  • $50 Algiers Main Street Corp

  • $1580 Alliance for Good Government

  • $500 Annual Role Model Awards Gala

  • $3850 Armstrong Family Services

  • $1200 Asian Pacific American Society

  • $125 Change Inc.

  • $2100 Concerned Citizens for a Better Algiers 

  • $500 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

  • $300 Each One Save One

  • $3500 East New Neighborhood Advisory Committee

  • $3125 Family Services of New Orleans

  • $5183 Faber Awards Inc (Plaques for golf tournament)

  • $75 Felicity Redevelopment Inc.

  • $170 First Emmanuel Baptist Church

  • $500 First Grace Community Alliance

  • $6000 Friends of City Park

  • $2000 Friends of King School

  • $105.99 Friends of Lafitte Greenway

  • $18,000 Friends of St. Augustine Inc. / St. Augustine H.S.

  • $500 Friends of Vieux Carre Comm.

  • $100 G.W. Carver Alumni Association

  • $1000 Girl Scouts Louisiana

  • $150 Girl Talk of LA

  • $2500 GNO Afterschool Partnership

  • $325 GNO-ABO Charitable & Education Fdn

  • $1250 GNOSF

  • $1500 Grace House

  • $200 Greater Antioch FGBC

  • $50 Greater Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church

  • $300 AFL-CIO

  • $300 GNO Regional Prayer Breakfast

  • $3050 Harry Thompson Center

  • $400 Health and Education Alliance of LA

  • $175 Hispanic Chmaber of Commerce of LA

  • $500 Hope the Food Pantry of New Orleans

  • $500 House of Broel / Victorain Mansion

  • $250 Hynes Charter School

  • $580 Independent Women’s Organization

  • $250 Knights of Peter Claver

  • $100 LA Freedman Missionary Baptist Church

  • $875 LA/SPCA

  • $1500 LAFON Nurssing Home

  • $500 Le Sanctuary Book Club

  • $1000 Learning Styles Strategies

  • $4750 Legacy Donor Foundation

  • $500 Legal Aid Bureau

  • $300 Liberty Foundation

  • $500 Life Center

  • $6500 Links Inc. Crescent City Chapter

  • $40 Little Zion MBC

  • $250 LNLFSR

  • $750 Longue Vue House and Gardens

  • $4000 Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp

  • $3500 Louisiana Democratic Party

  • $125 Louisiana Governor’s Prayer Breakfast

  • $1500 Louisiana Justice Institute

  • $750 Louisiana Museum Foundation

  • $200 Louisiana Victory

  • $1000 Love’s Way Foundation

  • $1350 LSP Museum Foundation Inc.

  • $1740 March of Dimes

  • $500 Marian Central Catholic Middle School

  • $50 Miller McCoy Academy

  • $100 Mount Carmel Christian Faith Academy

  • $100 N.O.S.S.F. 

  • $4320 NAACP

  • $1500 National Coalition of 100 Black Women

  • $200 New Hope Baptist Church

  • $2250 New Orleans Delta Foundation

  • $1350 New Orleans Jazz Orchestra

  • $1650 New Orleans Police Foundation

  • $1250 Newell Normand Campaign Fund

  • $600 Plimsoll Club

  • $528 Pink House Inc.$450 Powerful Women International

  • $2300 Preservation Resource Center

  • $700 R C Blakes Sr Scholarship Foundation

  • $3925 Southeast LA Building & Construction Trade Council

  • $2400 Southern University

  • $5700 Women on Assignment

LOANSHARKING YOURSELF?

It is very common for candidates to loan their campaigns the funds to get their name out there, build momentum, then generate supporters. But how many people know the mechanics of how these transactions fully work? Is there a banking paper trail of actual funds transferred? And what are the rules in regards to paying them back? Surely some candidates will self-fund a losing campaign, and that is that. 

Marlin Gusman, a perennial political powerhouse, has reported loans to his campaign in the hundreds of thousands, and does not seem to pay them back despite raising millions of dollars. He also seems to be paying interest on the loans, from his campaign to himself. 

Without a full understanding of how this all goes down, we will just leave this here:

Loans he continues to report as outstanding from his City Council era two decades ago (which is why he continues to file reports from that last election in year 2000:

.

Summary on the Data and Methodology

The data listed above comes directly from the filings available on the State Ethics Board. It may be under-inclusive based on any number of omissions or errors in the process of accepting, reporting, and posting money. There may a few duplicate entries, but these are simple to spot as they will be immediately next to each other if searching by date or alphabetically; and this would be if they were listed on multiple reports, but we did manage to eliminate many duplicates.

Attempts to consolidate donors by businesses and individuals was relatively simple, but is certainly incomplete. OpenGov lists corporate filings, including directors and agents, and many people register their business at their home addresses, and many spouses share the same donor address. Many individual donors use their work address, further connecting the donors as do websites of companies with a public face.

The 2019 OPSO audit is available for download on the OPSO site.

The 2021 OPSO proposed budget was found on Granicus, the New Orleans City Council document site.

Any notations made in error are unintentional, and this list is not meant to disparage anyone.This entire research project spanned approximately two weeks, and we encourage others to do research for themselves, and/or apply knowledge you already have regarding the people and companies involved in these several thousand transactions.