Five public officials in Louisiana, including a sitting mayor and police chief, were arrested Tuesday on charges tied to the alleged misuse of confidential law enforcement data.
According to Louisiana State Police, Ville Platte Mayor Ryan Leday Williams, 40, and Mamou Police Chief Charles Patrick “Pat” Hall, 53, were taken into custody alongside Sgt. Darrian Guillory, 33, of the Ville Platte Police Department; Dispatch Supervisor Chasessica Basco, 41, of Evangeline Parish 911; and Officer Yolanda Savoy Lewis, 49, of the Opelousas Police Department.
All five individuals face charges of malfeasance in office. Additionally, Hall, Guillory, Basco, and Lewis are accused of trespassing against state computer systems.
Investigators allege the group accessed government databases and shared sensitive information with a defendant involved in an ongoing criminal case. The information reportedly included details about alleged victims tied to active investigations.
Williams, Hall, Guillory, and Basco were booked into the Evangeline Parish Jail, while Lewis was booked in neighboring St. Landry Parish. Bond was set at $75,000 for Hall and $500 for both Williams and Guillory. Basco’s bond had not been set as of the latest update.
Williams and Hall were both elected in 2022 and began their terms in 2023. Their current terms are scheduled to end later this year.
The arrests add to a history of legal issues within Mamou’s police leadership. Former police chiefs Greg Dupuis and Robert McGee pleaded guilty in 2015 to federal charges after admitting to using TASERs on inmates who were not resisting.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing, and additional details are expected to be released as they become available.
This information was first reported by KNOE; their story can be found here.
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