Two defendants plead guilty in alleged theft and bribery scheme involving federal grant funds

Kenneth Lawson, a former Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office grants manager, and Areion Banks pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft and bribery concerning a federally funded program, the US Department of Justice said. The charges arose under 18 U.S.C. §§ 371, 666(a)(1)(A) and 666(a)(1)(B).

According to court documents, Lawson allegedly diverted or attempted to divert more than $45,000 from OPSO and directed additional grant funds to an entity he controlled. The DOJ also alleges that Banks paid Lawson approximately $5,900 and falsely posed as an OPSO employee during an attempted transaction.