Marcotte Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges

Louis Marcotte III, New Orleans area bail bondsman, pleaded guilty in federal court to racketeering charges for allegedly bribing at least two Jefferson Parish judges, according to Associated Press reports.

Marcotte recently signed a Louisiana Department of Insurance “Consent to Voluntary Revocation” document revoking all producer licenses held by him.

In September 2003 he was served with a cease and desist order and a summary suspension of all bail bond and insurance licenses. The C&D order enumerated a number of violations of the Louisiana Insurance Code, including failing to remit to the company premiums collected on bail bonds, failing to pay bail forfeitures and allowing a bail bond agency to operate without an insurance license.

Under the current plea agreement Marcotte faces between five and six years in jail, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Former state District Judge Ronald Bodenheimer was allegedly identified in the charge against Marcotte. Bodenheimer is reportedly waiting for his own sentencing on federal charges.

Marcotte is believed to have given Bodenheimer and another unidentified judge cash and gifts, and paid for meals and drinks for the two, along with hotel rooms at casinos on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The bribes were reportedly in exchange for the judges directing business to Marcotte’s company, Bail Bonds Unlimited.

As part of the plea agreement, Marcotte has vowed never to write bail bonds again.