Owner of Southern Funding Mortgage in Alexandria Faces Fraud Charges
July 31, 2009
The owner of Southern Funding Mortgage, which closed in April, appeared in federal court in Alexandria Thursday morning to face charges of carrying out a scheme that defrauded Sabine State Bank of more than half a million dollars.
William Earl Nichols, of 5445 Provine Place, Apt. 1205, Alexandria, was charged with bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He stood before U.S. Magistrate Judge James Kirk Thursday morning in handcuffs, mere hours after his arrest. Kirk ordered that Nichols remain in the custody of U.S. Marshals until a detention hearing on Tuesday in federal court in Shreveport. Nichols also will enter a plea that day.
A federal public defender was appointed in the case as Nichols’ financial status warranted it, Kirk said.
The case is being transferred to Shreveport since the victim — Sabine State Bank, whose main office is located in Many — is in that district, said Donald Washington, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Louisiana.
Washington told The Town Talk that there are no individual victims in the current indictment — the bank is the only listed victim — but more charges could come as the investigation continues.
The two-count indictment alludes to other possible defendants, although none are named. The indictment, sealed until Thursday, alleges that Nichols and “others” prepared fraudulent promissory notes by forging signatures of borrowers and notaries public and delivered them to the bank, which then deposited funds into an account for First Fidelity Mortgage Inc. First Fidelity Mortgage Inc. operated as Southern Funding, owned by Nichols.
The indictment listed six different notes given to Sabine from November 2008 to February 2009, totalling $557,500.
Court documents in Nichols’ April Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing have several allegations with criminal implications. Many creditors, who hope to avoid potential losses from the pending bankruptcy ruling, are claiming the debt owed to them by Nichols is exempt from discharge as his actions were “embezzlement or larceny” or “actual fraud,” according to documents.
Natchitoches Man Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography
July 31, 2009
Louisiana State Police arrested a Natchitoches man on charges of possession of child pornography. Charles Jason Heck, 28, 1015 Parkway Drive, was arrested July 22 following an investigation by the Alexandria field office of the La. State Police. Investigators determined that Heck’s Internet service was being utilized in the criminal activity.
LSP, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office and Natchitoches Police Department met with Heck at his residence. During the interview and search of his residence, information was obtained that led to his arrest. He was arrested and charged with one count of possession of child pornography and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center with a bond of $50,000.
The investigation was part of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s Operation Child Watch. Anyone who has information regarding the exploitation of children should contact their local law enforcement agency or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Cyber Tip Line at 1-800-THE-LOST or 1-800-843-5678, open 24 hours a day.
Two DeRidder Linemen Fatally Electrocuted
July 31, 2009
Two men were fatally electrocuted while performing routine right-of-way maintenance on power lines near Tanglewood Loop earlier this week. Around noon on Monday, 911 received a call that two men had been electrocuted. First responders learned that the men, Michael Brister, 41 and William Bailey, 35, were working around a high voltage power line.
A tree trimming crew had been performing routine right-of-way maintenance when a piece of equipment became entangled and de-energized the power line. Bailey, a lineman for Cleco Power, was dispatched to the outage, and he and Brister were working to resolve the situation when the line was energized.
Bailey was pronounced dead at the scene, and Brister was airlifted by helicopter to Beauregard Memorial Hospital, but later died of injuries he sustained.
President of Cleco Power, Deliek Samil, said, “We would like to express our deepest sympathies to everyone involved in the incident including the families of both men and the Cleco family.” She said that Bailey was an experienced and very qualified line mechanic and this was a horrible tragedy.
Carolyn Wyatt
July 31, 2009
Carolyn was born December 16, 1938 in Shreveport, LA and passed away on July 29, 2009, at her home in Marthaville at the age of 70. She was raised mostly in the Florien/Gandy area and attended Florien High School. While living in Belmont she met the love of her life, Frank Wyatt. They married in the Old Pisgah Community in 1954, then lived in Shreveport for 20 years where they raised their two sons. They settled on Wyatt Road in the Old Pisgah Community in Marthaville in 1975.
Carolyn will always be remembered by her many friends and family for her sweet and loving spirit. She, along with her husband, was an active member of Old Pisgah Baptist Church. She was a blessing to her community with her kind and gentle nature, and she was the world’s BEST grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved animals and tending the flowers in her yard, but the thing she lived for was seeing her grandkids and great-grandkids.
She is survived by her husband, Frank Wyatt; two sons, Ricky Wyatt and wife Carol of Lafayette, and Randy Wyatt and wife Cathy of Spring, Texas; brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Kathy McCauslin of Ball; sister, Sue Grant of Bossier City; grandchildren, Megan Wyatt Billings and husband David, Rhett Wyatt and wife Tiffany, and Lacy Wyatt Leger and husband Stacy, all of Lafayette; great-grandchildren, Peyton Billings and Ty Billings of Lafayette; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Woodrow McCauslin and Wilma Carter McCaulsin of Florien; brother, Warren McCauslin of Shreveport; and nephew, Shane McCaulsin of Ball.
Visitation will be at Warren Meadows Funeral Home, 355 S. Capitol St. in Many, LA from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2009. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at the Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Leon Manshack and Bro. Glyn Howard officiating. Pallbearers are Rhett Wyatt, Stacy Leger, Seth Miller, Buddy Gaddis, Richard Wyatt and David Billings. Honorary pallbearers are David Wyatt, Chuck Wyatt, Don Wyatt, Kenneth Bloxom, Kevin Remedies, Bryan McCauslin, Chris McCauslin, Tim Grant, Floyd Davis, Cecil Sauders and Zane Salter.
In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Hospice of Many, 740 San Antonio Ave, Many, LA 71449.
Sabine Parish Arrest Report for July 31, 2009
July 31, 2009
Kelly Ann Lewis, 23, White, Female, was arrested on charges of State Probation Hold (Misdemeanor) by the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department. She remains in Jail.
Hayley Bass, 18, White, Female, was arrested on charges of State Probation Hold (Misdemeanor) by the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department. She remains in Jail.
Gregory Paul Comeaux Jr., 19, White, Male, was arrested on charges of Theft by Fraud by the Many Police Department. He Remains in Jail.
Claude, Hobert, 51, Black, Male, was arrested on charges of Bench Warrant by the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department. He Remains in Jail.
Walter Glenn Steele Jr., 31, White, Male, was arrested onc ahrges of Theft over $500 & Simple Burglary by the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department. He Remains in Jail.
Phillip Lee Jaminson, 43, White, Male, was arrested on charges of Turn Signal Required, Bench Warrant, Possession of Schedule II with Intent to Distribute, & Possession of Drug Paraphanelia by the Many Police Department. He Bonded.
Vernon Parish Arrest Report 7/30/2009
July 30, 2009
The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Department reported eight arrests over the last 24 hours:
Thomas Murray, white male, 26, was arrested on charges of bench warrant: failure to appear by Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Department. He bonded.
Justin Vallery, white male, 22, was arrested on charges of open container by Rosepine Police Department. He remains in jail.
Matthew P. McCullough, white male, 27, was arrested on charges of driving under suspension and improper lane usage by Rosepine Police Department. He remains in jail.
Jack Cummings, white male, 30, was arrested on charges of 3 counts theft over $500.00 and 3 counts of forgery by Vernon Parish Sheriff’ Department. HE remains in jail.
Lyndsey Bailey, white female, 30, was arrested on charges of cruelty to juveniles by Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Department.
Jeffrey Crathers, black male, 40, was arrested on charges of theft of utilities by Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Department. He bonded.
Johnathan Graf, white male, 20, was arrested on charges of 2 counts indecent behavior with a juvenile, felony carnal knowledge, 7 counts oral sexual battery, and unauthorized entry inhabited dwelling by Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Department.
Kenneth Johnson, black male, 29, was arrested on charges of dirsturbing the peace by New Llano Police Department. He remains in jail.
Sabine Parish Arrest Report 7/30/2009
July 30, 2009
The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department reported four arrests over the last 24 hours:
Jacob Litton, white male, 18, was arrested on charges of probation hold by Probation and Parole. He remains in jail.
James Ray Leone, white male, 45, was arrested on charges of theft of utility and two bench warrants by Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department. He remains in jail.
Erik Allen Finnerty, white male, 26, was arrested on charges of simple criminal damage to property and trespassing by Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department. He bonded.
Jerffery Scott Trader Sr., white male,46, was arrested on charges of entry after being forbidden and probation hold by Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department. He remains in jail.
There are currently 149 inmates being housed at the Sabine Parish Detention Center. He remains in jail.
Mary Lou Small
July 28, 2009
Mary Lou Small, 80 of Many, Louisiana died on Friday, July 24, 2009, at Many Health Care North in Many, Louisiana.
She was born Saturday, January 5, 1929 in Negreet, Louisiana,
She is survived by her sons, Mike Small and wife Arlene of Many, LA, Pat Small and wife Sybil of Many, LA, daughter, Carol Troha and husband Phillip of Arlington, TX, brothers, Douglas Curtis of Many, LA, John Curtis of Temple, TX and Wilbert Curtis of DeRidder, LA, sister, Helen McCollister of Shreveport, LA; 8 grand children; 14 great grand children. She is preceded in death by her parents, Alvin Wallace Curtis and Myrtle Wright Curtis.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 PM on Monday, July 27, 2009 at Alford Heights Baptist Church. Interment will be in Mt. Olive, Many, LA.
The family will receive friends from 4:00 PM to on Sunday, July 26, 2009, at Alford Heights Baptist Church in Many, Louisiana.
In Lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to: National Parkinson’s Foundation, 1501 NW 9th Ave., Miami, Fl. 33136. 1-800-327-4545. www.parkinson.org
Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018, (212) 923-4700. www.pdf.org.
Arrest Report for July 28, 2009
July 28, 2009
Sabine Parish
Jimmy B. Williams, 31, White, Male, was arrested on charges of Natchitoches Parish Bench Warrant by the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department. He Paid Fine.
Nathan Firesheets, 32, White, Male, was arrested on charges of Contractors Misapplication of Payments by the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department. He Remains in Jail.
Stanford Bolton, 23, Black, Male, was arrested on charges of Parole Violation by Probation & Parole. He remains in Jail.
Martin B. Armstrong, 28, White, Male, was arrested on charges of Probation Violation by the Zwolle Police Department. He Remains in Jail.
Total Inmates: 148
Vernon Parish
Gregory Campbell, 34, White, Male, was arrested on charges of Bench Warrants- 4 cts. by the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Department. He Remains in Jail.
Barbara Wileman, 35, White, Female, was arrested on charges of Misdemeanor Probation Warrant by the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Department. She Remains in Jail.
Nicholas A. Closson, 28, White, Male, was arrested on charges of Theft of Motor Vehicle & Theft over $500 by the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Department. He Remains in Jail.
Jerry W. Jose, 36, White, Male, was arrested on charges of Driving while Intoxicated- 1st, & Improper Lane Usage by the Louisiana State Police. He Bonded.
Dean Joseph Hargrove, 36, White, Male, was arrested on charges of Beauregard Parish Bench Warrant & Resisting Arrest by the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Department. He Remains in Jail.
DeSoto Parish Wreck Kills Shreveport Man
July 27, 2009
A 23-year-old Shreveport man was killed when his pickup ran off La. Highway 175 about four miles north of Interstate 49 in north DeSoto Parish.
State police say the accident occurred just before 8 p.m. Saturday.
Troopers say Alexander Stillwell Buteau drove off the road, causing the truck to overturn. Investigators say Buteau was not wearing restraints and was thrown from the vehicle.
Buteau was taken to LSU Hospital in Shreveport, where he was pronounced dead.
Troopers say alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the wreck.
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