Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre has announced applications are now being accepted for the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association annual scholarship for 2025. All eligible students in Lafourche Parish are encouraged to apply.

The $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a graduating high school student who attends Nicholls State University or Fletcher Technical Community College. An applicant must be a permanent resident of Lafourche Parish and must be eligible for admission to the school indicated on the application. The award will only be paid for attendance at one of the aforementioned qualifying institutions as a full-time, undergraduate student. The scholarship is awarded as a gift, not a loan, and is awarded to defray the rising costs of tuition and related expenses in higher education. There are no restrictions on the purposes for which the scholarship is spent.

Applications are available for download online at www.LPSO.net/scholarship. Completed applications can be turned in at any Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office location or mailed to Captain Brennan Matherne, P.O. Box 5608, Thibodaux, LA 70302. Applications can also be emailed to Captain Matherne at brennan-matherne@lpso.net. All applications must be received by the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office no later than April 1, 2024. An independent selection committee will review the applications and select a winner to be announced in May. There are no restrictions on applicants by reason of race, creed, color, age or national origin, and family members of Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office employees are also eligible to apply.

The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Scholarship Program awards scholarships in all 64 parishes, providing assistance to worthy Louisiana students in furthering their education and training with resources made available through the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Honorary Membership Program.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced two people have been arrested and three others are being sought for an armed robbery that occurred in in the early morning hours of January 24, 2025. Anthony Breaux, 17, of Bayou Blue and Nathan Craig Jr., 17, of Houma have been arrested. Detectives are still seeking Zion Williams, 21, and Jasmon Jackson, 20, both of Thibodaux, as well as Jayden Woods, 21, of Houma in connection with the armed robbery.

Through investigation, detectives learned Breaux contacted an acquaintance of his and met up with him in the Bayou Blue area in the early morning hours of January 24, 2025. When Breaux met his acquaintance, the four other suspects were also present, and they held the man at gunpoint. They stole money, jewelry, clothing, and a cell phone from the man. The victim reported the incident to a nearby deputy. The deputy located the vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver refused to stop and continued along LA Highway 182 to Raceland. At one point, the vehicle crashed and the driver and passengers exited the vehicle and ran from the scene. Deputies searched the area, but they were unable to locate any of the individuals at that time.

Detectives conducted an investigation and identified Breaux, Craig, Williams, Jackson, and Woods as the five suspects. They obtained warrants for all five individuals for one count each of armed robbery and armed robbery with the use of a firearm.

Breaux turned himself in to authorities at the Thibodaux Police Department on the evening of January 24, 2025. He was booked on the active warrants. Bail is set at $300,000.

Craig was taken into custody by authorities in Terrebonne Parish on January 28, 2025. He was later transferred to Lafourche Parish and booked into the Correctional Complex on the active warrants. Bail is set at $500,000.

Investigators are asking for the public’s help in locating Zion Williams, Jasmon Jackson, and Jayden Woods. Anyone who knows their whereabouts can contact Detective Blake Thibodaux at 985-532-4352 or blake-thibodaux@lpso.net. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Bayou Region Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-743-7433, online at CrimeStoppersBR.org, or via the Bayou Tips app on mobile devices. Tipsters who use Bayou Region Crime Stoppers could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Raceland man has been arrested for aggravated assault and illegal use of weapons. Randall Falgout, 33, was arrested on Wednesday.

At around 9:40 a.m. on January 15, 2025, deputies responded to a call of a man threatening to shoot another person with a firearm. Deputies responded to the scene and found a vehicle matching the one described. Deputies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 3700 block of LA 1 in Raceland and identified the driver as Randall Falgout. Through investigation, deputies learned Falgout had gone to a trailer park attempting to locate a man he claimed had stolen money from him. He began knocking randomly on doors attempting to locate the man. When he was told the man wasn’t home, he fired a round in the air. Falgout said he did it to scare the man. Deputies located the firearm used in the incident inside Falgout’s vehicle.

Falgout was arrested and transported to the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and illegal use of weapons. Bail is set at $20,000.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced two men were arrested on a traffic stop after being found with a variety of narcotics. Sidney Poindexter Jr., 57, and Ronald Ellis Jr., 52, both of Raceland were arrested early Sunday morning.

At around 1:35 a.m. on January 12, 2025, a K-9 deputy conducted a traffic stop in Raceland near the intersection of LA 1 and LA 182. The deputy identified the driver as Ellis and the passenger as Poindexter. The deputy found Ellis had an active warrant for his arrest, and took him into custody.

A Thibodaux Police officer in the area arrived to assist. As Poindexter exited the vehicle, the deputy saw him try to hide an object in his jacket pocket. The deputy told him to remove his hands from his pockets, but Poindexter refused. The police officer ran over to attempt to detain Poindexter, and a struggle ensued. As a result, a bag fell from Poindexter’s pocket, and the officer could see a firearm in his pocket. Poindexter was taken into custody. The bag contained other smaller bags of a variety of suspected narcotics. Poindexter was also found to have drug paraphernalia in his possession. Inside the vehicle, the deputy found a large bag of suspected methamphetamine. Both men were transported to the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux for booking.

Poindexter was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, marijuana, hydrocodone, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and heroin. He was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal carrying of a weapon in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting an officer. Bail is set at $376,000.

Ellis was booked on warrants for two counts of distribution of methamphetamine and contempt of court. He was additionally charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, driving under suspension, and improper vehicle lighting. Total bail has not yet been set. He is also being held as a fugitive for St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre and Lafourche Parish Schools Superintendent Jarod Martin announced two teenage girls have been charged for trying to frame a male high school teacher for sending inappropriate messages to a student.

On December 18, 2024, juvenile detectives opened an investigation into a report from a concerned party that a Central Lafourche High School teacher had been sending inappropriate messages to a 16-year-old female student. Detectives learned she and a 15-year-old friend were allegedly engaged in conversations involving inappropriate messages from the teacher via an online instant messaging platform.

Over the next two weeks, detectives conducted a thorough investigation, including interviews with all parties allegedly involved, and obtained search warrants for their phones and accounts on the messaging platform. The investigation revealed that the two teenage girls had fabricated messages, created fake accounts, and shared screenshots with friends in an effort to frame the teacher for sending inappropriate messages.

The investigation proved the teacher had not sent any messages or photos to the girls and, in fact, had no involvement. The teacher was actually proven to be the crime victim and has been cleared of all allegations. One of the two students also admitted to their involvement in the crime.

On January 6, 2025, both girls were charged with one count each of false swearing for the purpose of violating public health or safety (felony), cyberstalking, and online impersonation. They were placed on electronic monitoring and released to the custody of their parents.

Sheriff Webre applauded the tenacious efforts of investigators and warned those considering similar crimes. “Our juvenile detectives are diligent and take claims of inappropriate behavior very seriously,” said Sheriff Webre. “They are, however, equally serious about false claims. Someone’s life can be instantly ruined by a false allegation, and I am proud that our investigators were able to get to the bottom of this. Technology has made it very easy for people to try to manipulate the truth, but technology also makes it easy for investigators to ultimately find the truth.”

“We are shocked and appalled to learn of the actions of two of our students,” added Superintendent Martin. “The allegations against one of our teachers were false and malicious, and we appreciate the efficiency of investigators in uncovering the source of these messages. Such attacks on a teacher’s credibility and reputation are concerning and can inhibit their ability to effectively educate our children. We are committed to investigating all allegations of misconduct in order to provide a safe environment conducive to learning and working for all of our students and staff.”

UPDATE: Gutierrez has been found and is safe. 

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating 14-year-old Jose Gutierrez of Galliano. He was last seen leaving his residence on foot at around 9:30 p.m. on Monday, December 30.  

Gutierrez is 4’4” tall, weighing approximately 115 pounds with brown hair. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt and a white cap. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or simply dial 911.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced detectives have made an arrest as part of an investigation into a scam. Diego Diaz, 47, of Georgia was arrested after being caught trying to accept thousands in cash from a scam victim.

On December 10, 2024, an elderly Thibodaux man contacted the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office about a scam. He had received notification of an online purchase that had been made through Walmart for a dishwasher. The man contacted Walmart which had no record of the purchase and was informed the notification was likely a scam. He then received a call from a person claiming to be from the Federal Trade Commission who claimed to be investigating money laundering. He told the elderly man that in order to keep his money safe, he should withdraw $40,000 to be picked up by investigators and put into safekeeping. Investigators worked with the victim to coordinate a pickup at 10 a.m. the following day.

On December 11, the elderly man was provided detailed instructions from the scammer on how to package the cash to provide to a courier. Maintaining surveillance at the location, investigators observed the courier arrive, and he was immediately taken into custody. He was identified as Diego Diaz. Further investigation revealed Diaz had acted as a courier in similar transactions in other areas as well, and is associated with a larger criminal organization that spans the southern United States.

Diaz was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on charges including conspiracy to commit extortion, conspiracy to commit felony theft, and conspiracy to commit exploitation of the infirmed. He is being held without bond on these charges, and he is also being held for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This investigation is continuing with cooperation from neighboring parishes where similar incidents have occurred as well as in cooperation with federal authorities.

Sheriff Webre reminds citizens to always be skeptical of any calls they receive asking for money or trying to “protect” their money as part of a larger investigation. “Anytime someone suggests you not tell anyone, even law enforcement, what is happening and asks you for money, you can bet it’s a scam,” said Sheriff Webre. “We were fortunate to arrest someone appearing in person, but in most cases, everything is done electronically, and once money is sent, it is difficult – if not impossible – to recover. We strongly encourage anyone to contact local law enforcement for help before exchanging money.”

Diego Diaz