Ex-prosecutor indicted for alleged bribery conspiracy is 'honorable man,' his lawyer says
A former Louisiana prosecutor accused in a kickback scheme is an “honorable man” who will “stand tall and fight these false allegations,” according to his lawyer. (Image from Shutterstock)
A former Louisiana prosecutor accused in a kickback scheme is an “honorable man” who will “stand tall and fight these false allegations,” according to his lawyer.
Former Assistant District Attorney Gary Haynes, 66, of Lafayette, Louisiana, is accused of directing defendants in a pretrial intervention program to take classes from a co-conspirator’s company in exchange for kickbacks, according to a Sept. 18 press release from the U.S. Department of Justice and stories by Law360, the Acadiana Advocate, KLFY and KATC.
Haynes is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, using his cellphone to aid bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering and obstruction of justice.
Haynes’ lawyer, Todd S. Clemons, told several publications in a statement that Haynes “is an honorable man of integrity” who is “good and hardworking.” The indictment, Clemons said, “tells a false story” and is a “falsehood created by weak and less-than-honorable men pressured into cooperating with the Department of Justice.”
Haynes “will stand tall and fight these false allegations until he is exonerated by 12 of his peers,” Clemons said.
Haynes was an assistant district attorney in the district attorney’s office for the 15th Judicial District in Louisiana and is now on administrative leave, according to the Acadiana Advocate. He was indicted last week.
Haynes oversaw the pretrial intervention program, which offered an alternative to criminal prosecution and dismissal of criminal charges. Haynes allegedly approved defendants who could participate and then directed them to take classes from companies run or co-owned by Leonard Franques, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in January 2024, prosecutors say.
The program participants paid for the classes to complete the program and obtain dismissal of the charges against them through Haynes’ direction, according to prosecutors.
Another alleged co-conspirator was Dusty Guidry, a contract employee who also had authority over the diversion program. He pleaded guilty in March 2023 to conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.
The indictment describes a January 2022 meeting between Haynes, Guidry and Franques in which they allegedly discussed how to conceal kickbacks. Options included buying a vehicle for Haynes or writing checks to a company reactivated by Haynes called M.D. at Law.
Haynes is also accused of directing a co-conspirator to destroy and conceal records. If he is convicted, Haynes could be sentenced to a maximum of 65 years in prison.
