LAFAYETTE,La. - Recently retired CEO of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Rob Guidry, has been recognized for his contribution to the chamber of commerce profession by the Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. The Association presented Guidry with their inaugural "Shooting Star" award for his efforts and his commitment to helping new and small chamber executives advance their careers.

LACCE President Dawn Sharpe-Bracket presented the "Shooting Star" award at LACCE's recent state meeting held August 22, 2013 in Minden, Louisiana. Guidry was also lauded for his 35 years of dedication and service with the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. Guidry, now in private business in Lafayette as President of Guidry Davis LLC, a business and organization development and governmental relations company, will retain his connections to state and national Chambers of Commerce organizations and executives.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - State health regulators say Louisiana has recorded its first West Nile virus death of the year.

In a news release Friday, the state Department of Health and Hospitals said the death occurred in Rapides Parish. It also reports 10 new West Nile cases this week, bringing this year's total number to 31.

This week's new infections include six cases of neuroinvasive disease, which can cause brain damage, paralysis or death. Four of those cases were in Ouachita Parish and one each was reported from Lafayette and St. Tammany parishes.

There were also four cases of the milder West Nile fever - three in Ouachita and one in St. Tammany.

People get the virus from mosquito bites.

Dr. Raoult Ratard, the state epidemiologist, recommends taking precautions against mosquitoes.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - LSU will consolidate the administration of its main campus College of Agriculture and the university system's AgCenter, three decades after they were split apart, under a plan approved Friday by the LSU Board of Supervisors.

The merger was recommended by new LSU System President and Chancellor King Alexander and approved without objection. It will be phased in over several months, with completion targeted for March, according to documents provided by the board.

The AgCenter helps Louisiana businesses and oversees agricultural extension and research services with 17 research stations around the state and extension service offices in all 64 parishes. The College of Agriculture teaches students and readies them for careers in the field. More than 150 of the employees overlap, holding jobs with both entities.

Alexander and AgCenter Chancellor Bill Richardson told the board that the merger will help create efficiencies and better coordinate research activities. Alexander said it will also strengthen student training and agricultural work across the state.

"There's no greater asset to a land grant university than agriculture," Alexander said. He added, "We can reach more families, help more people and do more for the citizens of Louisiana" with the consolidation.

The two entities operated together until 1972, when the board chose to divide them.

Under the consolidation, the current dean of the College of Agriculture, Kenneth Koonce, will step down from his administrative role and return to faculty Oct. 8, and Richardson will assume those responsibilities in a new position as the vice president for agriculture.

LSU board member Ronnie Anderson, who is president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, praised the consolidation. He said it had the support of the agricultural community around Louisiana.

"I had an opportunity to visit with farmers and legislators and other folks around the state, and I've not had a negative comment about doing this," Anderson said.

Shortly after the LSU board vote, the AgCenter and the College of Agriculture announced they are merging their dairy science programs over nine months to "better integrate the research, extension and teaching efforts."

The AgCenter's research station in Franklinton includes a dairy farm, and the College of Agriculture runs a separate farm whose cows will be moved to the AgCenter station.

"A larger-scale dairy will allow us to expand our research program. We'll be able to do more projects and projects that require greater numbers of animals," said Phil Elzer, LSU AgCenter associate vice chancellor and program leader for animal sciences, in a statement.

LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Tylerton James Clement, 20, of Crowley, La., was sentenced to 84 months in prison and five years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Richard T. Haik for making a video of minors having sex and transporting the file. He is also required to register as a sex offender.

According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea, two other males, under the age of 18, picked up two 13-year-old females on April 3, 2011 and gave them drugs. The males then took the girls to a hotel in Crowley where they engaged in sex acts while the girls were under the effects of the drugs. Clement arrived at the hotel some time later
and made a video of the sexual acts with his phone. He admitted to being 18 years old at the time that the video was made and admitted to transporting the video to Texas.
Clement pleaded guilty on January 7, 2013.

"This defendant engaged in despicable behavior and abused two minors," Finley said. "At the time of this incident, Clement was 18, old enough to know that he shouldn't use his cellphone to video sex acts with children. This sentence should serve as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking about taking advantage of or sexually
exploiting children. My office along with our federal, state and local partners will continue to investigate and prosecute these cases; we are going to do everything that we can to protect the children of this District"

"Recording the rape of drugged children is an abhorrent crime, demonstrating a complete lack of conscience or empathy by the defendant," said Raymond R. Parmer Jr.,
special agent in charge of HSI New Orleans. "HSI and our law enforcement partners are engaged in a full court press across the United States and around the world to stop the
sexual exploitation of children. This defendant will have many years to spend in prison thinking about his crime and the pain he so selfishly caused others."

"I applaud the efforts of the entire investigative and prosecutive team for bringing swift justice to this individual who engaged in such outrageous exploitative
conduct of children," said Mike Anderson, FBI Special Agent In Charge, New Orleans Division.

The U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Service, Louisiana State Police, and Crowley Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice launched nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local
resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The U.S. Attorney's Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration & Customs Enforcement
(ICE) encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) DHS-2ICE. Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp Tips may be submitted anonymously.

Those concerned may also leave tips with the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Tips may be submitted anonymously. The Lafayette FBI office number is (337) 233-2164.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending Aug. 31 have dropped from the previous week's total.

The state labor department figures released Friday show 2,434 initial claims compared to 2,505 a week earlier.

The four-week moving average of initial claims decreased to 2,573 from the previous week's average of 2,676.

Continued unemployment claims claimed for the week ending Aug. 31 decreased to 25,203 compared to the previous week's total of 25,947.

The four-week moving average of such claims decreased to 26,080 from the previous week's average of 26,506.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - Montana's Supreme Court on Friday blocked a judge from resentencing a former teacher who got 30 days in prison for raping a 14-year-old student, a sentence widely criticized after the judge said the victim was "older than her chronological age."

Justices said Judge G. Todd Baugh lacked authority to impose a new sentence on former Billings teacher Stacey Rambold, 54.

An appeal of the case already was pending from prosecutors who contend Rambold should serve two years, at a minimum. But Baugh had sought to undo the sentence on his own after his remarks triggered a public backlash and calls for his resignation.

Rambold's victim, Cherice Moralez, committed suicide in 2010 while the case was pending. Baugh commented at Rambold's Aug. 26 sentencing that she was "as much in control of the situation as was the defendant."

The Supreme Court intervention came in response to an emergency petition from the Attorney General's Office to stop Baugh's plans for a Friday afternoon resentencing. The state had warned Baugh's plans could throw the case into disarray and "cause gross injustice to an orderly appeal."

Less than an hour before the hearing was to begin, the high court ordered Baugh to cancel it and enter a written sentence for Rambold so the appeal process could proceed.

Court records show Baugh submitted two signed judgments on Friday: One calling for a two-year prison term for Rambold - with a note at the bottom saying it was withdrawn given the Supreme Court order - and a second that matched his original oral pronouncement for a 30 day term.

Appearing in his courtroom about the time the hearing was scheduled to begin, Baugh told a group of reporters that he stuck with his original, oral judgment in order to comply with the court order.

The judge also seemed to affix some degree of blame for the original sentence on prosecutors, because they did not immediately raise objections to his actions at the Aug. 26 hearing.

Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito said in response that his office had sought 20 years in prison for Rambold with 10 years suspended, and it was up to the judge to make a final determination that day.

Activists who pushed for Baugh to resign or be removed from the bench said Friday that those efforts would continue.

"He took no responsibility, no ownership. He blamed the state, blamed the prosecutor," said Marian Bradley, president of the Montana National Organization for Women. She said his earlier comments "tell women it's not OK to step forward, because even if you do, you could be knocked down by a judge."

Moralez's mother, Auliea Hanlon, said through her attorney that she was pleased the appeal can now move forward.

Baugh told The Associated Press he had "tried to do the right thing."

"I've said what I can say. Those people that disagree with it are always going to disagree with it," he said.

University of Montana School of Law professor Jeffrey Renz said the state had law on its side in arguing Baugh's attempt to unilaterally change Rambold's sentence violated proper procedures. But as a practical matter, Rambold likely will return to Baugh's courtroom one way or another, since the state Supreme Court would remand the case back to the judge to fix any sentencing problems, Renz said.

The sentence handed down Aug. 26 had been suggested by Rambold's attorney, Jay Lansing.

Lansing said in a court brief filed this week that a new sentence from Baugh would have created "confusion and uncertainty for all parties." He said the original sentence - 15 years with all but 31 days suspended and a one-day credit for time served - was allowed under state law.

Prosecutors didn't challenge the 30-day sentence as illegal until the days after the Aug. 26 hearing, when they discovered the mandatory minimum term for sexual intercourse without consent was two years.

Baugh on Friday repeated his assertion that giving Rambold the minimum mandatory sentence was appropriate due to the circumstances of the case. He described the former teacher with no prior record as a low risk to re-offend after spending more than two years in a sex-offender treatment program.

The defendant entered that program in 2010, after Moralez's suicide left prosecutors without their main witness in the case shortly before it was scheduled to go to trial.

That led to a deferred prosecution deal that allowed Rambold to avoid trial until he violated the terms of the agreement last year, for not reporting that he was in a sexual relationship with a woman and for unauthorized visits with family members' children.

Court documents show there were complaints about Rambold's conduct with female students as early as 2004. Three years before his relationship with Moralez, prosecutors say, "he was warned to stay away from young girls in his class."

No charges were filed, and Lansing has said his client would challenge those accusations.

For the second time this week, a Lafayette neighborhood is hit by thieves.

It's the same "m-o" as the case from earlier this week, when 15 cars were burglarized.

The cars were all unlocked. The thieves going car-to-car, checking the doors, finding the open ones and taking items from inside. This morning, just two cars were hit.

It happened in the Charles Read neighborhood, off West Bayou Parkway, the same neighborhood as earlier this week. Someone saw it happen at around 5:30 this morning and called police. Officers spotted the suspect, but he ran off. Police blocked off several streets and brought in K-9 units, but the suspect got away.

Right now, police do not think the suspect caught on camera today is the same person responsible for Tuesday's crimes. Either way, residents in this neighborhood are worried the suspect is becoming bolder.

The Charles Read neighborhood was lit with blue police lights Friday morning. Officers set up a perimeter looking for the potential car burglary suspect.

"It's just unsettling to come out again when it's not quite light and have all this happen," said Lafayette resident Elizabeth Abdalla.

Police say the man was on a bike, riding in the neighborhood when someone called 9-1-1.

Abdalla says, "It's just crazy, it makes you feel so uneasy. It's late in the morning for a typical criminal."

When police showed up, they say the suspect ran. Around 5:40, the suspect is caught on the same cameras, hopping a fence, running across the driveway, going to the home across the street. Less than two minutes later, police pass by and the suspect moves to the next home. Police recovered a book sack the suspect stole from a car and the suspect's bike.

"They're going to continue to check the area and look for that opportunity to take advantage of people," said Corporal Paul Mouton of the Lafayette Police Department.

Trisha Bordelon lives in the neighborhood and says she feels unsafe. She is hoping police will make an arrest soon.

"They will catch these thugs. I can't wait, it's not a day too soon that they catch them," said Bordelon.

Including the Charles Read neighborhood, in the past week, Lafayette Police say more than 30 cars were burglarized in the city. The other cases include early Sunday morning. Items were stolen from three cars on Acadian Drive off South College.

Police say overnight last Friday, more than 15 cars were broken into near Comeaux High School off Martial Avenue.

Police say every single one of these crimes could have been prevented simply by locking car doors.

If you have any information on these crimes, call Crime-Stoppers at 232-TIPS.

Chris Welty
cwelty@katctv.com

United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Herbert S. "Steve" Fouke, 54, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to conspiracy to commit securities fraud, investment adviser fraud, wire fraud and mail fraud, involving an investment scheme that cost clients $8 million.

According to documents filed at the guilty plea, Fouke became a client of Lafayette resident Richard Buswell in 2006. Buswell worked as a licensed stockbroker
from 2006 until 2009 for Bowman Investment Group LLC, which was also Buswell's company.

Fouke admitted to recruiting friends and business associates to become clients of Buswell and the Bowman Investment Group. Fouke also admitted to being present at
meetings between Buswell and his clients, during which Buswell made false statements to the clients about his credentials, the commissions he would charge, and the rates of return that he guaranteed the clients would receive. Buswell admitted in a guilty plea July 24 to engaging in frequent and excessive stock trades in order to earn
commissions.

Fouke faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and restitution for the conspiracy count. Buswell faces up to 20 years in
prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and restitution for a wire fraud count. Sentencing dates have not been set.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly P. Uebinger and Howard C. Parker are prosecuting the case.

A foamy water situation in St. Landry Parish has Lawtell residents concerned, and wondering what is in the water. They're questioning if the chemicals that spilled during last month's train derailment have anything to do with it.

Early Friday morning, the enormous suds almost 4 feet high grabbed the attention of Allen Guillory.

"It's obvious there's some chemicals in the ditch. So my problem is, you know, what affect is that going to have with our kids or the people in our community? Or even our animals that drink out of here?" Lawtell resident Allen Guillory said.

But according to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality the foams are a natural occurrence, and the water is not a threat.

"Some of the rice farmers in the area have been draining their field, and as a result foam was forming as the water was cascading out of the culvert," Tim Beckstrom, who works at the Department of Environmental Quality, said.

"There are chemicals used in rice farming, and that may contribute to some of the foaming as well. But it certainly has, it's an approved chemical, it has no environmental impact adversely with regard to human life or livestock or nature itself," St. Landry Parish President Bill Fontenot said.

He and D.E.Q. adds, that the train derailment was downstream, and the two instances aren't related. Allen Guillory says still, he'd like more information about the chemical clean up process.

"We need to know what's going on. You know, we live here," Guillory said.

Two years after a Crowley couple lost both of their sons, the parents are still searching for answers on how they died.

Christopher Sr., and his wife Beuhla Mayfield buried their two year-old son, Braylon, and their five-year old son, Christopher Jr., in 2011.

Both boys died unexpectedly in their sleep, with only a month between their deaths.

Instead of being able to grieve the loss of both their sons, they've spent the past two years trying to figure out how they died.

Mayfield says not knowing hasn't allowed them to move on.

"It's truly unbelievable to wake up and carry that with you and not know what happened to your babies, and we just need some help," says Mayfield.

Mayfield says reports from the police showed the boys didn't suffer from any trauma.

Along with trying to find answers, the couple says they are dealing with added stress from the public. "When you leave your home and you go places , people look at you as if you harmed your kids, that's an eerie feeling."

In reply to a KATC public records request Friday, Acadia Parish Coroner Dr. Mark Dawson said the deaths are still under active investigation more than two years later and the autopsy results have not been released by the forensic pathologist.

Opelousas Police arrest a man for simple rape.

Police say Roderick "Frog" Smith is accused of raping a woman in the early morning hours of September 3rd. Investigators say two other victims have also come forward saying Smith raped them as well. The investigation is ongoing and Smith could possibly face additional rape charges.

Residents need to remain vigilant when doing activities outdoors, and to continue to follow the five Ds:

·Dusk and Dawn (avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are seeking blood, for most species this is during the dusk and dawn hours). There are mosquitoes that bit during the day.
·Dress (wear light-colored clothing that covers exposed skin)
·DEET (use mosquito repellents including DEET on skin when you are outside)
·Drainage (check your home and yard to rid it of standing water in which mosquitoes can lay their eggs).

MCCI (593-0123) should be contacted for additional spraying in your area and to report dead birds. Experts offer that with the advent of cooler weather and less rain, mosquito populations and the threat of West Nile should diminish.

Opelousas police have arrested several suspects on theft and drug charges.

Police say on September 4th, they were notified by Port Barre Police regarding a stolen weapon at 915 W PArk Ave. in Opelousas.

Opelousas Police, Port Barre Police, and K-9 Officers went to the residence and subsequently granted entrance. Immediately after entering the home police say they smelt marijuana. During the course of the investigation say officers located marijuana, prescription pills, a 7.62MM Assault Rifle,.40cal Smith/Wesson handgun, 2 A/C window units, 1 PlayStation 3, 2 X-Box 360, and 2 flat screen tv's.

Arrested were:
Johnathan Shelvin 19 of Opelousas: Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile, Illegal Use of a CDS in the presence of a Juvenile, Illegal Poss. of Stolen Things, Poss W/Int to Distribute Sch. III Drugs.

Jermarcus Joseph 26 of Opelousas: Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile and Illegal Use of a CDS in the presence of a juvenile.

Kevin Davis 24 of Opelousas: Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile and Illegal Use of a CDS in the presence of a Juvenile.

2 Juveniles were also arrested for Possession of a handgun by a juvenile.

Tonight, Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino presented plaques to four Acadian Ambulance medics who saved one of their employees.

On August 3rd, Acadian Ambulance Paramedic Hurley LeDay and EMT-B Sarah Dupre were working standby for the night's horse races when Outrider Kenneth Gibson suddenly slumped over on his horse and fell to the ground. LeDay rushed over and found him in cardiac arrest, and he and Dupre quickly began treating Gibson while a stunned audience watched from the grandstand. They were able to obtain a pulse, and Paramedic Haley Larcade and EMT-B Jackie Etienne sustained it while transporting him to a nearby hospital.

Steve Darbonne, Evangeline Downs' director of racing operations, was so thankful to the medics that he insisted they be honored.

"We wanted to show them that we really appreciate them being here every night," he said.

After the fourth race, Darbonne presented the medics with plaques. It was especially a touching moment for LeDay, who actually has been friends with Gibson for years and rides horses with him on the weekends.
"It's an honor to see Kenny tonight," said LeDay. "For him to be here to say thank you means so much."

"They're already dear friends," said Gibson. "Lifesaving friends. I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you."

Gibson has made a full recovery and will be returning to work next week.

Acadian Ambulance is committed to their patients and their communities. They are an emergency and non-emergency medical transportation provider to Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi.

Since 1971, Acadian has provided the highest level of emergency medical care and transportation possible. In the past decade, the company has expanded to include a diverse suite of services in health, safety, and transportation. Acadian's six divisions are Acadian Ambulance Service, Acadian Monitoring Services, Air Med, Executive Aircraft Charter Service, National EMS Academy and Safety Management Systems.

On Wednesday, September 11, the Town of Arnaudville will be turning the water off at approximately 9:00 am for all of the customers on Hickory Road, Henderson Drive, Precious Drive, Connie Drive and approximately ¼ mile up Thomassee Road to the end of the water line.

The water will be off for the entire day but will be turned back on in the evening. Approximately 40 customer connections will be affected.

A boil advisory will be issued for this area after the repairs are completed. Town of Arnaudville
apologizes for the inconvenience but it is necessary to repair a water leak at the intersection of Hickory Road and Henderson Drive.

Ascension Episcopal 46, Grand Lake 6

Basile 27, Sacred Heart-Ville Platte 6

Baton Rouge Episcopal 22, North Vermilion 18

Church Point 42, Beau Chene 3

Comeaux 28, Cecilia 13

Crowley 34, Wossman 20

Delcambre 34, Berwick 12

Eunice 28, Northwest 12

Hanson Memorial 48, Jeanerette 16

Highland Baptist 51, Houma Christian 12

Iowa 27, Erath 7

Kaplan 43, Lafayette 42, 2OT

Lafayette Christian Academy 55, Ascension Christian School 7

Loreauville 19, Central Catholic 13

New Iberia 14, Breaux Bridge 13

Oberlin 22, Iota 12

Rayne 45, St. Edmund Catholic 19

South Cameron 50, Gueydan 0

St. Martinville 34, Jennings 31

St. Thomas More 10, Sulphur 7

University 41, Teurlings Catholic 15

Vermilion Catholic 20, New Iberia Catholic 17, OT

Ville Platte 38, Westminster Christian 14

Vinton 13, Abbeville 7

Westgate 19, Carencro 6

United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced
that Regan Chase Benoit, 25, of Jennings, La., pleaded guilty Thursday before U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi to importation and possession with intent to distribute
anabolic steroids.

According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea, on May 24, 2012 U.S. Postal workers inspected a package from China and discovered that it contained one kilogram of anabolic steroid powder. The address on the package was for a Jennings residence. On May 30, 2013, authorities observed a woman picking up the parcel from the post office in Jennings. After detaining the woman, she told authorities the package was for Benoit. Benoit was questioned by police and admitted to importing steroid tablets and powder from China. He admitted that after receiving the drugs, he liquefied them and placed them in vials for distribution.

Benoit faces up to 10 years in prison, a $500,000 fine, and two years of supervised release for both counts. Sentencing has been set for December 5, 2013.

Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Jennings Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett L. Grayson is prosecuting the case.

United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today
that Valerie Benjamin, 49, of New Iberia, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge
Richard T. Haik to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) out of more than $24,000 dollars in false hurricane damage claims. She was ordered to pay $24,960 in restitution to FEMA for the losses incurred under the scheme. Valerie Benjamin pleaded guilty April 16, 2013.

According to the evidence presented at the guilty plea, Valerie Benjamin conspired with Jacqueline Benjamin and Pamela Alexander, also of New Iberia, to steal money from FEMA. Following hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and Gustav and Ike in 2008, Valerie Benjamin submitted applications to FEMA seeking disaster assistance and emergency housing assistance, claiming she was required to evacuate her residence because of storm damage. The investigation revealed that she never moved from her home, and it only sustained minor storm damage. To facilitate the scheme Valerie Benjamin provided personal information such as her address, Social Security Number, date of birth and phone number to Pamela Alexander and Jacqueline Benjamin who filed fictitious landlord statements, rental agreements, rent receipts and other documents to make it appear that Valerie Benjamin legitimately qualified for the assistance.

Pamela Alexander pleaded guilty December 18, 2012 and on May 13, 2013 was sentenced to serve 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Alexander was also ordered to pay $15,280 in restitution. Jacqueline Benjamin pleaded guilty March 14, 2013 and was sentenced June 12, 2013 to serve three years of probation. She was also ordered to pay restitution.

"The defendants in this case took advantage of a program designed to help those in need and provide money to victims of natural disasters," Finley stated. "Their actions put an unnecessary financial burden on an agency tasked with the huge responsibility of responding to the aftermath of hurricanes. This office and our judicial partners will continue to prosecute these types of cases to make sure that the money is not diverted to frauds like these defendants."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel prosecuted the case.

United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today
that Herbert S. "Steve" Fouke, 54, of Lafayette, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to conspiracy to commit securities fraud, investment adviser fraud, wire fraud and mail fraud, involving an investment scheme that cost clients $8 million.

According to documents filed at the guilty plea, Fouke became a client of Lafayette resident Richard Buswell in 2006. Buswell worked as a licensed stockbroker from 2006 until 2009 for Bowman Investment Group LLC, which was also Buswell's company.

Fouke admitted to recruiting friends and business associates to become clients of Buswell and the Bowman Investment Group. Fouke also admitted to being present at meetings between Buswell and his clients, during which Buswell made false statements to the clients about his credentials, the commissions he would charge, and the rates of return that he guaranteed the clients would receive. Buswell admitted in a guilty plea July 24, 2013 to engaging in frequent and excessive stock trades in order to earn commissions.

Fouke faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and restitution for the conspiracy count. Buswell faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and restitution for a wire fraud count. Sentencing dates have not been set.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly P. Uebinger and Howard C. Parker are prosecuting the case.

Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office Daily Arrest Report for September 07, 2013

Name: Barnett, Vincent
Charge: Corrections Rehab Program
Arresting Agency: Lafayette Parish Sheriff'S Ofc
Address: 200 Blk Alva ROA
Youngsville, La

Name: Boudreaux, Trane
Charge: Owi Vehicle
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Pd
Address: 500 Blk Gareden STR
Lafayette, La

Name: Boyd, Kyle
Charge: Theft Charge
Arresting Agency: Lafayette Parish Sheriff'S Ofc
Address: 200 Blk Montrose AV
Lafayette, La

Name: Broussard, Shanique
Charge: Theft Charge
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Pd
Address: 800 Blk Alva DRV
Breaux Bridge, La

Name: Cassidy, Richard
Charge: Municipal Purposes (Free Text)
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Marshal
Address: 3600 Blk N Gin STR
Erath, La

Name: Clay, Nicole
Charge: Disturbing The Peace Charge
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Pd
Address: 200 Blk Vanburen STR
Laafayette, La

Name: Collins, Kenny
Charge: Hold For Extradition
Arresting Agency: Lafayette Parish Sheriff'S Ofc
Address: 0000 Blk Homeless
Lafayette, La

Name: Dohmann, Ashlie
Charge: Prohibited Acts; All Schedules
Arresting Agency: Lafayette Parish Sheriff'S Ofc
Address: 600 Blk Coolidge STR
Lafayette, La

Name: Dore, Jesse
Charge: Simple Burglary Charge
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Pd
Address: 7900 Blk Curley ROA
Broussard, La

Name: Dore, Dwayne
Charge: Warrant/Bench Warrant
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Marshal
Address: 2200 Blk Raceland ROA
Duson, La

Name: Encalade, Wilbert
Charge: Owi Vehicle
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Pd
Address: 300 Blk Feu Follet ROA
Lafayette, La

Name: Faulk, Craig
Charge: 2nd Deg Battery Charge: Int'L
Arresting Agency: Lafayette Parish Sheriff'S Ofc
Address: 2200 Blk #C Mills ST
Lafayette, La

Name: Frederick, Deraphecus
Charge: Owi Vehicle
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Pd
Address: 600 Blk Sunset DRV
Lafayette, La

Name: Green, Melanie
Charge: Soliciting For Prostitutes:Pro
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Pd
Address: 00000 Blk Homeless
Lafayette, La

Name: Guillory, Valarie
Charge: Warrant/Bench Warrant
Arresting Agency: Lafayette Parish Sheriff'S Ofc
Address: 3800 Blk Melancon Lot 67 ROAD
Broussard, La

Name: Hebert, Brandon
Charge: Indecent Behavior With Juvenil
Arresting Agency: Lafayette Parish Sheriff'S Ofc
Address: 1500 Blk Bearb ROA
Sunset, La

Name: Jenkins, Javonte
Charge: Unauthorized Use Of A Motor Ve
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Pd
Address: 1100 Blk Roper DRV
Scott, La

Name: Kline, Terrance
Charge: Theft Charge
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Pd
Address: 500 Blk Stewart STR
Lafayette, La

Name: Landry, Llyod
Charge: Schedule Ii
Arresting Agency: Penalties
Address: 100 Blk Romero STR
Youngsville, La

Name: Ledet, April
Charge: Owi Vehicle
Arresting Agency: La State Police Troop I
Address: 900 Blk S Lyman STR
Abbeville, La

Name: Mccardle, Alesha
Charge: Schedule Ii
Arresting Agency: Penalties
Address: 400 Blk Windsong DR
Youngsville, La

Name: Mcreyolds, Michael
Charge: Man/Dist/Pos Of A Sch.I; Marij
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Marshal
Address: 500 Blk Steward STR
Lafayette, La

Name: Melara, Jackson
Charge: Owi Vehicle
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Pd
Address: 500 Blk Huval ROA
Broussard, La

Name: Navarre, Brandon
Charge: Warrant/Bench Warrant
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Marshal
Address: 300 Blk Maryview Farm STR
Lafayette, La

Name: Perez, Fay
Charge: Appearing In An Intoxocated Co
Arresting Agency: Scott Pd
Address: 11211 Blk Louisiana Hwy 690
Abbeville, La

Name: Reed, Steven
Charge: Corrections Rehab Program
Arresting Agency: Lafayette Parish Sheriff'S Ofc
Address: 300 Blk Queens ROA
Lafayette, La

Name: Savell, Megan
Charge: Warrant/Bench Warrant
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Pd
Address: 400 Blk Bell Downs STR
Lafayette, La

Name: Scrantz, Krysta
Charge: Probation (Free Text)
Arresting Agency: La Doc P And P Lafayette
Address: 1100 Blk Huval
Breaux Bridge, La

Name: Sylvester, Brittany
Charge: St. Martin Parish
Arresting Agency: Lafayette City Pd
Address: 600 Blk Blanchard STR
Breaux Bridge, La

Name: Syon, Lawrence
Charge: Flight From An Officer; Aggra
Arresting Agency: La State Police Troop I
Address: 200 Blk Benoit Falgout ROA
Lafayette, La

Name: Touchet, Jess
Charge: Domestic Abuse Battery
Arresting Agency: Lafayette Parish Sheriff'S Ofc
Address: 100 Blk Allison Street
Lafayette, La

Name: Vigneaux, Maclyn
Charge: Possession Of Marijuana
Arresting Agency: Broussard Pd
Address: 15416 Blk Cleo
Abbeville, La

Name: Wyatt, Edwend
Charge: Warrant/Bench Warrant
Arresting Agency: Lafayette Parish Sheriff'S Ofc
Address: 300 Blk Ira STR
Carencro, La

Name: Zavala, Christian
Charge: Schedule Ii
Arresting Agency: Penalties
Address: 100 Blk Marigny
Duson, La