Home New Orleans Press Releases 2011 Former Police Chief of Ball, Louisiana Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Charge
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Former Police Chief of Ball, Louisiana Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Charge
Charge a Result of False Statements Made to FEMA

U.S. Attorney’s Office January 14, 2011
  • Western District of Louisiana (318) 676-3641

ALEXANDRIA, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that JAY L. BARBER, former chief of police for the town of Ball, Louisiana, entered a guilty plea today to a charge of conspiracy to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Association (“FEMA”) following Hurricane Gustav.

Barber, age 56, admitted at the guilty plea hearing today before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell that he submitted false and fictitious statements to FEMA in an application for benefits to be paid by FEMA in connection with the Presidential Disaster Declaration for the state of Louisiana in September 2008, for Hurricane Gustav. Barber admitted to overstating the use of police vehicles, hours that he worked, and hours worked by other police officers in order to receive government funds from FEMA. Barber was chief of police of Ball, Louisiana from 2008 to November 2010.

Barber faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Barber is on bond pending his sentencing hearing, which is set for April 25, 2011, at 10:30 a.m.

The case was investigated by Special Agent Randy Deaton of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.

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