TimmyRoussel
St. James Parish President Timothy "Timmy" Roussel has been indicted on six counts of malfeasance in office, according to the office of Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry.
(St. James Parish)
St. James Parish President Timothy "Timmy" Roussel has been indicted on six counts of malfeasance in office for using parish money and employees to do work on private property, resulting in at least $70,000 in fraudulent expenses, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry's office announced Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 28).
A grand jury in St. James Parish handed up the indictment.
Two other parish officials serving under Roussel have also been indicted on corruption charges: St. James Parish director of operations, Blaise Gravois, and assistant finance director Ashley Poche.
"The public should be able to trust that their government works for them in an admirable and respectable way," Landry said in a news release. "My office will not stand for corrupt officials, elected or appointed."
The indictments follow a joint investigation by Landry's office and the office of St. James Parish District Attorney Ricky Babin.
Roussel is accused of authorizing a private company to build a roughly 4,500-foot natural-gas line, a 10,000-unit gas meter and additional supplies and then having parish employees install the gas line and meter on private property, according to Landry's office.
The indictment also accuses Roussel of authorizing a public employee to hire a private company to drive about 24 piles on private property and then having the St. James Parish treasurer issue a check to the company for the work.
In addition, Roussel is accused of authorizing Gravois to use public employees and public equipment for the removal of a shed from private property, the demolition of a private mobile home on private property, and the removal of a playhouse and debris on a private lot.
The accusations against Roussel also include using public employees and public equipment to enhance or improve private property for the sole benefit of its owners, according to Landry's office.
Born and raised in Lutcher, Roussel began his first term as parish president in January 2012, according to Roussel's page on the St. James Parish government website.
The Louisiana Department of Justice will take the lead in prosecuting Roussel and help in the prosecution of Gravois.
In response to a request for comment from NOLA.com|The Times-Picayune, St. James Parish President Timmy Roussel issued the following statement: "I've hired an attorney and have been advised not to comment. We will vigorously fight these allegations and are confident that we will win this."
This post has been updated to include St. James Parish President Timothy "Timmy" Roussel's comment.