Former Orleans Criminal District Court Employee Sentenced for Role in Bail Bonds Fraud

Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that PATRICIA TATE, age 52, of New Orleans, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty today to a one-count Bill of Information charging her with conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud.

U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced TATE to three years probation, including 100 hours of unpaid community service, and a $100 special assessment.

According to court documents, TATE was employed by the Clerk of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court’s Office (“Clerk’s Office”) from 1993 through August 15, 2014, as a deputy clerk assigned to a division known as the Magistrate Clerk’s Office. During her employment as a deputy clerk, TATE became was aware that Rufus Johnson was operating as a bail bondsman out of an office located at 538 S. Broad Street in New Orleans without having the required license, and therefore could not legally run a bail bond business. TATE accepted cash payments from Johnson in exchange for facilitating the operation of Johnson’s illegal bail bonding business. TATE’s activities included accessing official-use criminal justice records, delivering pre-certified bail bonds to the bail business, and other activities to assist the business outside the scope of her official duties.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter, and the assistance of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael B. Redmann and Mark A. Miller were in charge of the initial prosecution. Jordan Ginsberg, Harry W. McSherry, and Brittany Reed were in charge of sentencing-related proceedings and the trial of Rufus Johnson.