Tagged News

• Contractor charged by feds in bribery scheme that implicated top state official Play Video

  November 30, 2023 5:43 PM

  LAFAYETTE - Seven months after the head of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries resigned after he was implicated in an apparent kickback scheme involving a contract the agency signed with a private contractor, federal prosecutors charged a contractor with conspiracy charges. The Advocate was first to report... more »

• Kenny Matassa wants indictment thrown out, trial date set Play Video

  February 27, 2018 5:30 PM

  GONZALES - A trial date for embattled Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa will be held in July if the situation is not rectified sooner. In court today, we learned Matassa's lawyer filed a motion to quash, which essentially would toss out the indictment if it is granted. Lewis Unglesby believes... more »

• March trial set for bribery charges against Kenny Matassa

  October 18, 2017 11:39 AM

  GONZALES – Embattled Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa will face bribery allegations at a March trial. The March 13 th date was set at a hearing Wednesday. Matassa was indicted on charges earlier this year. He is accused of offering a bribe to get a man running for... more »

• Attorney: Case against Matassa should be tossed due to 'candidacy law' Play Video

  September 21, 2017 12:06 PM

  GONZALES – The attorney for embattled Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa argues in newly-filed court documents, the bribery case against Matassa is unwarranted because the man he is accused of bribing not to run for office was not a real “candidate” under state law. Matassa was indicted on charges... more »

• Lawson fails to appear in court for Matassa bribery case

  August 14, 2017 1:02 PM

  GONZALES - Monday morning, former Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa was in court for a motions hearing regarding his bribery charges . However, the man who accused Matassa of offering him money, was not. Wayne Lawson, says Matassa and a Gonzales business man offered him cash to drop out... more »

• Grand jury to hear evidence in Kenny Matassa bribery case

  February 13, 2017 1:23 PM

  GONZALES – A grand jury is hearing testimony Monday about the bribery case against Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa. Matassa is accused of offering a bribe to a man running for Gonzales City Council to drop out of the race. District Attorney Ricky Babin scheduled a grand jury... more »

• Ascension residents furious over Matassa trial delay Play Video

  January 26, 2017 12:21 AM

  GONZALES - Frustrated residents met to discuss the lack of action taken against embattled Parish President Kenny Matassa. Matassa is accused of bribery , allegedly offering money to a man if he dropped out of a Gonzales council race. District Attorney Ricky Babin scheudled a grand jury for Matassa last... more »

• Second councilman calls on Ascension Pres. Matassa to resign

  August 7, 2016 10:16 PM

  GONZALES - A second Ascension Parish council member is calling for Parish President Kenny Matassa to step down after allegations of bribery surfaced last week. District 4 Council member Daniel "Doc" Satterlee released a statement Sunday afternoon saying that the people of Ascension Parish deserve better than to have... more »

• Kenny Matassa addresses bribery allegations at council meeting Play Video

  August 4, 2016 11:34 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Ascension Parish Presidnet Kenny Matassa addressed the media for the first time since bribery allegations surfaced. "I've got nothing to say," Matassa told people at a council meeting Thursday. "I'm doing my job and I'm going to continue doing my job." At the meeting, Matassa began answering... more »

• Two councilmen question Matassa's political future

  August 4, 2016 11:08 AM

  GONZALES - There is dissension on the Ascension Parish Council amid allegations the parish president was involved in a bribe. This week, the WBRZ Investigative Unit reported audio recordings purportedly captured Parish President Kenny Matassa paying Wayne Lawson not to run for a seat on the Gonzales City Council.... more »

• Man attempts to bribe deputy during Wal-Mart shoplifting arrest

  February 26, 2016 3:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Sheriff’s deputies say they arrested a Sicily Island man after he tried to bribe an officer to get out of being arrested for shoplifting Friday morning. 21-year-old D’vonte Leonard was booked on charges of theft of goods, resisting an officer and public bribery following the incident... more »