La. State Senator Indicted on Insurance Fraud, Conspiracy Charges

A federal grand jury on April 10 indicted a Louisiana state senator on charges he conspired to launder money for a convicted felon accused of operating an illegal insurance business.

Derrick Shepherd, a lawyer from the New Orleans suburb of Marrero, allegedly conspired with the unlicensed bond broker to launder roughly $2 million in fake construction bond fees, federal prosecutors alleged.

“With this indictment, we yet again demonstrate our unswerving commitment … to seek out corruption wherever it exists,” said U.S. Attorney Jim Letten in announcing the indictment.

Shepherd, 38, a Democrat who ran an unsuccessful congressional campaign in 2006, has claimed he was targeted because he couldn’t help the FBI build corruption cases against other public officials. He denied wrongdoing but gave up his post as a legislative committee chairman.

“I am deeply disappointed and saddened by the indictment against me that has been secured by the federal government. I have never knowingly or maliciously violated any law,” he said Thursday in an e-mailed statement.

The allegations surfaced last year, days after voters elected him to a second term. Shepherd ran for Congress in 2006 but finished third in a primary challenge to U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., who is accused of using his congressional office to leverage bribes and lucrative business deals from companies seeking to do business in Africa. Jefferson has pleaded not guilty in the case.

Shepherd is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The first charge carries a maximum of five years in prison. Each of the other counts is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

The broker, Gwendolyn Joseph Moyo, 53, was indicted in October on charges she illegally sold insurance. She allegedly sold construction bonds despite federal convictions dating back to 1989 that barred her from working in the insurance business.

Thursday’s 41-count indictment includes new charges against Moyo as well as charges against James Zoucha, 66, of Oceanside, Calif. Also named in the indictment were two Nevada corporations controlled by Moyo, AA Communications Inc. and Capital Management Asset Group.

Letten described Zoucha as a “straw man” who helped conceal Moyo’s operation of the bonding business. Moyo allegedly sold worthless bonds to contractors, leaving them uninsured for projects.

The indictment says Shepherd was acting on a referral by an unidentified public official when he deposited bond premiums in his accounts for Moyo, after state regulators seized her corporate bank accounts. Shepherd only returned a portion of the bond premiums to Moyo, the indictment said.

Shepherd also allegedly created false bills and time records to conceal the money laundering scheme, the indictment said.

The indictment identifies the unnamed “Public Official ‘A”‘ as a political rival of Shepherd’s. The indictment also says “Public Official ‘B”‘ – a family member of the other unnamed public official – helped Moyo launder money.

Letten, through a spokeswoman, declined to elaborate on the identity or actions of the unnamed public officials.

Senate President Joel Chaisson said Shepherd will resign as chairman of the Senate Local and Municipal Affairs Committee.

“I respect his decision, and I think it’s the right one,” said Chaisson, D-Destrehan.

No date has been set for Shepherd’s initial appearance in federal court.

The indictment was the latest in a series of corruption charges lodged against public officials in the New Orleans area.

“Public corruption in New Orleans is in serious retreat. And to the few remaining corrupt public pins standing, you should worry and aptly so,” said FBI Special Agent James Bernazzanni.

Letten wouldn’t respond to Shepherd’s claim that he was targeted because he wouldn’t cooperate with investigators against other public officials.

“I will not respond to allegations and the lamentations and the whining of people who have been charged with crimes out there,” he said.