July 17, 2014

Former New Orleans Police Officers Sentenced in Conspiracy to Commit Theft and Wire Fraud

NEW ORLEANS—U.S. Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr. announced today that RAFAEL DOBARD, age 39, and QUINCY JONES, age 33, both former New Orleans Police Department (“NOPD”) narcotics detectives, were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown. DOBARD and JONES were each sentenced to eighteen months’ incarceration to be followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, DOBARD and JONES were ordered to pay restitution to the City of New Orleans in the amount of $18,484.44 and $19,064.25, respectively.

On February 14, 2014, DOBARD and JONES pled guilty to conspiracy to commit theft from programs receiving federal funds and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to court documents, both defendants admitted that they conspired to enrich themselves and others by obtaining NOPD confidential informant funds by fraud and by corruptly making payments to other officers in their unit. They also admitted that they conspired to commit wire fraud by submitting NOPD timesheets that indicated they were working on duty for the NOPD when, in fact, they were working at non-NOPD detail jobs.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to ensuring that no one is above the law,” stated U.S. Attorney Polite. “These officers, both of whom swore to uphold and enforce our laws, instead broke the law by stealing public funds.”

“Few breaches of the public trust rival law enforcement corruption so the FBI and the NOPD’s Public Integrity Bureau will continue to ensure that all such matters receive our utmost attention with extensive investigative resources to match,” stated Michael Anderson, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Orleans Field Division.

The case was investigated jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the NOPD Public Integrity Bureau. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael B. Redmann, who is detailed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office.