On April 27, 2022, the New Orleans City Council adopted Resolution No. R-22-203 requesting that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigate monies being awarded to nongovernmental agencies through one-year Cooperative Endeavor Agreements, including public monies diverted to Forward Together New Orleans (FTNO).
On February 9, 2023, the City responded to this request and confirmed that a cashier’s check dated January 27, 2023, in the amount $1,063,410.40 was received from FTNO.
The City of New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) believes that the following Third-Party Inspectors, registered with Safety and Permits, are currently in violation of Section 110.10(1) of the Building Code because they appear to have current and active commercial and residential contractor’s licenses issued by the State as described below:
Allegations of neglect of duty, misuse of City of New Orleans (City) property and abuse of office by Kyshun Webster, Executive Director, Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC). It is alleged that Kyshun Webster consistently failed to report for work at the JJIC facility while still being paid by the City. It is also alleged that Kyshun Webster used JJIC facilities and personnel to care for his dog.
VIOLATIONS:
ACTION TAKEN: Referred to the City of New Orleans Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for administrative action.
The investigation into this matter was predicated on information received from Zepporiah Edmonds, Parking Administrator, Department of Public Works (DPW), alleging that a S&WB employee verbally threatened a City of New Orleans (City) Parking Enforcement Officer (PEO) via social media posts for issuing a metered parking citation to a vehicle parked in the 600 block of St. Joseph Street.
On March 23, 2022, David Callahan, Chief Administrative Officer, S&WB, sent an email to the City of New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) containing a letter from Callahan and six photocopies of images he received from DPW. The six images appear to be screenshots of posts to a social media platform. One of the images includes a portion of a metered parking citation issued in the 600 block of St. Joseph Street, all of which he received from DPW.
This investigation has determined that Mytrell Carter:
Over the course of two days, OIG investigators found twenty-six (26) vehicles that were registered to S&WB employees or their relatives, bearing a handicap hang-tag and parked in a metered parking space in the immediate vicinity of the S&WB Office.
Seven (7) of these twenty-six (26) S&WB employees were AUTHORIZED to possess a handicap hang-tag. Nineteen (19) were NOT AUTHORIZED to possess a handicap hang-tag.
The Office of Inspector General completed an investigation concerning an allegation that Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport employees were using the airport’s account number at NAPA auto parts stores to obtain a discount towards the purchase of auto parts for their personal use. The results of this investigation are described in the enclosed Report of Investigation.
The investigation into this matter was predicated on a complaint received from the New Orleans Aviation Board (NOAB) Legal Department. The NOAB reported that airport fire department employees were using the Airport’s corporate account number at NAPA auto parts stores to purchase auto parts for their personal use in order to take advantage of the discount offered by NAPA to the airport. Airport management became aware of the issue because a NAPA auto parts store employee had called former Airport Fire Chief Gary Simon Jr. about an auto part that an employee, Shalanda Augillard, had ordered from a NAPA store but forgot to pick it up. The NOAB also reported that the airport fire department chief mechanic, Ed Powell, had a side business repairing vehicles and used the discount often. In addition, Powell may have shared the airport’s corporate account number at the NAPA auto parts stores with other airport employees.
Orleans Parish Communications District Operations Manager Wendy Ervin was given access to the Louisiana Law Enforcement Telecommunications System and the National Crime Information Center despite being a convicted felon.
OPCD employees are granted access to LLETS, NCIC and other criminal justice related databases to verify vehicle registrations, driver’s license information and to conduct criminal history inquiries.
The interface agency in this instance is the OPCD. The “CSO” designation is assigned to personnel in the Louisiana State Police NCIC/LLETS Access Unit. Local user agencies violating CJIS policy are subject to disciplinary action which, in extreme circumstances, may result in the agency’s access to the system being temporarily revoked.
CITY OF NEW ORLEANS ASSISTANT CHIEF MECHANICAL INSPECTOR PLEADS GUILTY TO USING AN INTERSTATE FACILITY WITH INTENT TO CARRY ON UNLAWFUL ACTIVITY
NEW ORLEANS, LA – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that BRIAN MEDUS, 44, of Covington, pleaded guilty as charged to violating Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 1952(a)(3), conspiracy to use an interstate facility with intent to carry on unlawful activity.
On October 12, 2019, there was a catastrophic collapse of a building under construction at 1031 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA. known as the Hard Rock Hotel. During the collapse, three individuals perished and dozens of other individuals were injured. The Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) has investigated allegations of criminal conduct in relation to this project. During our investigation, we have had several communications and meetings with your Office.
Allegation of Possible Abuse of Overtime by Allegation of Possible Abuse of Overtime by Employees in the Property Management Department in calendar year 2018.
The City of New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) received information that Department The City of New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) received information that Department of Property Management (DPM) employees were paid excessive and possibly unnecessary overtime.
Civil Service Commission, City of New Orleans, Rule IV, 9.7 (a): Civil Service Commission, City of New Orleans, Rule IV, 9.7 (a): Advance approval must be obtained from the Civil Service Department if an employee is expected to exceed 750 hours of overtime in a year, whether regularly scheduled or otherwise.
