Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Checkpoints Planned for April 2 and 5

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct checkpoints this week in Lafourche Parish. A seat belt checkpoint will be conducted during the daytime hours of April 2, 2019. Another seat belt checkpoint will be conducted during the evening hours of April 5, 2019, followed by a DWI checkpoint which will continue into the early morning hours of the following day.

During the seat belt checkpoints, deputies will be checking motorists for seat belt and safety seat violations, as well as for proper inspection tags and other potential violations. During the DWI checkpoint, deputies will be looking for drivers who are possibly impaired while checking for other traffic safety issues. These checkpoints are designed to help raise awareness for these types of violations and make the highways of the parish safer for all motorists.

Sheriff Webre reminds citizens to designate a driver if you are going to drink. Motorists suspected of DWI who refuse to submit to a breathalyzer test will lose their driver’s license for one year on the first offense. For a second offense, the penalty increases to two years. Anyone convicted of a DWI offense while their driver’s license is suspended because of another DWI offense will face automatic prison time. Lafourche Parish is also a “No Refusal” parish, meaning if a suspected drunk driver refuses a breathalyzer test, deputies will seek a search warrant to have that person’s blood tested.

Three Arrested in Connection to a Narcotics Investigation

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced three people have been arrested in connection to a narcotics investigation. Troy Vicknair Sr., 53, and Jenny Rauch, 64, both of Gray were arrested Tuesday along with Jacob Yzaguirre, 25, of Houma.

Through investigation, narcotics agents had obtained arrest warrants for Vicknair and Rauch for Distribution of Methamphetamine, as well as a search warrant for Vicknair’s residence. On Tuesday, March 26, agents made contact with Vicknair on a traffic stop and took him into custody. Agents proceeded to Vicknair’s residence where they made contact with Rauch and Yzaguirre. During a search of the residence, agents discovered approximately 36 grams of suspected methamphetamine, four grams of suspected marijuana, 17 prescription pills, and drug paraphernalia, with varying amounts belonging to each individual. All three were placed under arrest and transported to the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux.

Vicknair and Rauch were each booked on the aforementioned warrants for Distribution of Methamphetamine, and they were each charged with Possession of Legend Drugs without a Prescription and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Rauch was additionally charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, and her bail is set at $27,500. Vicknair was additionally charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance. His bail is set at $40,900.

Yzaguirre was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bail is set at $20,500, but he is also being held for Terrebonne Parish due to warrants for Monetary Instrument Abuse and Contempt of Court.

Person of Interest Sought in Galliano Burglary Investigation

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced deputies are seeking to identify a person of interest in a burglary investigation. The burglary occurred at a boat storage facility in Galliano.

On the morning of March 20, 2019, deputies responded to a boat storage facility in Galliano in reference to a burglary. Deputies learned a person or persons had broken into several boat sheds. Deputies are still working to determine what items were stolen during the burglary.

Upon reviewing surveillance photos, deputies identified a person of interest in the case who was seen on the grounds earlier in the day on the date of the incident. The man was traveling on a bicycle with a basket mounted to the front.

Anyone who may be able to identify the person of interest, or anyone with any information on this crime, is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted using the P3 Tips app on your mobile device. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.

Person Of Interest Boat Storage Burglary — Person Of Interest – Boat Storage Burglary

Thibodaux Teen Charged for Making Threat to Assumption High School

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre and Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon announced a 16-year-old male juvenile from Thibodaux has been charged in connection to a threat made regarding Assumption High School. The threat was deemed to not be credible.

At around 11:35 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from Assumption High School regarding a possible threat. Several students had shown a social media post which suggested someone was allegedly planning to “shoot up Assumption High School tomorrow.” The threat was contained in a screenshot of what appeared to be a text message conversation, but investigators later learned it was orchestrated by the 16-year-old acting alone. The teen then posted the screenshot of the fake text message conversation to Snapchat. The screenshot was then circulated on other social media outlets.

On Thursday afternoon, detectives with Lafourche and Assumption Parishes worked to identify the teen suspect. Detectives questioned him, and he admitted to his role in the incident. He was charged with False Communication with the Intent to Cause an Emergency Response (R.S. 14:126.1.1) and placed into the Lafourche Parish Juvenile Justice Facility in Thibodaux.

Investigators do not believe there is any credible or imminent threat to Assumption High School, and school resumed as normal on Friday, March 22. Additional law enforcement officers were assigned to Assumption High School on Friday out of an abundance of caution.

Deputies Investigating Theft at Parish Pumping Station in Thibodaux

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced deputies are investigating a theft at a parish pumping station in Thibodaux.

On the morning of March 18, 2019, deputies responded to Sunoco Street off LA Highway 309 in Thibodaux in reference to several pieces of metal grating which had been taken from the Morvant Pump Station. The theft is believed to have occurred at some time between 3 p.m. on March 16 and noon on March 17. This parish property is worth several hundred dollars.

Anyone with any information is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted using the P3 Tips app on your mobile device. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.

One Man Injured in Tuesday Night Shooting in Raceland

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced detectives are investigating a Tuesday night shooting in Raceland that resulted in one man being injured. The injury is not considered to be life-threatening.

At around 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call from Ochsner St. Anne Hospital in Mathews that a man in his 20s had arrived with a gunshot wound. Deputies learned the shooting occurred around the 4200 block of LA Highway 1 in Raceland. Multiple shots were fired from a white car with several subjects inside. They shot at a group of three individuals, but only one was struck in the left leg. The victim was transported to University Hospital in New Orleans for treatment, but his injury is not considered to be life-threatening.

The investigation into this shooting is ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted using the P3 Tips app on your mobile device. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.

Thibodaux Man Arrested after Admitting to Having Sex with Underage Girl

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a man for having sex with an underage girl. Spencer Himel, 19, of Thibodaux faces multiple charges in the investigation.

Through investigation, detectives learned Himel had sex with an underage girl on at least one occasion within the last few months. The two had begun speaking via a social media app, and had several conversations that were sexual in nature. In one conversation, Himel had convinced the girl to have sex with him. Detectives also learned the girl’s mother had become aware of the situation and warned Himel to stay away from her daughter, informing him that the girl was not of consenting legal age.

On March 12, 2019, Himel took the girl from her mother’s home without her mother’s permission. After receiving a call from the girl’s mother, Himel returned the girl to her home but left the scene before deputies arrived.

On March 15, 2019, detectives made contact with Himel regarding the investigation, and he admitted to his involvement. Himel was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex. He was charged with Simple Kidnapping, Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile, and Computer-aided Solicitation for Sexual Purposes. His bail is set at $15,000.

Due to the nature of the allegations, no further information on the crime or the victim will be made available.

Sheriff Webre again encourages parents to take an active role in their children’s lives, especially when it comes to smartphone usage and social media. “Parents must constantly monitor what their children are doing online,” said Sheriff Webre. “You must talk with your children about the dangers of online predators and be sure you have access to all their accounts. If you are going to allow your children to be on social media, take the time to learn how to use it yourself so you can understand all the ways your child might hide something from you.”

For more information on the dangers of cybercrime including tips for parents, please visit www.LPSO.net/Cybercrime.

Seat Belt Checkpoints Slated for March 20 and 28

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct seat belt checkpoints in Lafourche Parish during the daytime hours of March 20, 2019, and March 28, 2019. During these checkpoints, deputies will be checking motorists for seat belt and safety seat violations, as well as for proper inspection tags and other potential violations. Checkpoints are designed to help raise awareness for these types of violations and make the highways of the parish safer for all motorists.

UPDATE: New Charges for Man Found in Possession of Cache of Stolen Property

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Cut Off resident initially arrested in December 2018 has been charged with eight new counts of possession of stolen property. Sidney Ricard Sr., 49, now faces a total of 11 counts of Illegal Possession of Stolen Things and burglary charges stemming from stolen property that was recovered in the South Lafourche area.

Ricard was arrested in December 2018 when detectives found a vehicle containing stolen property at a Golden Meadow motel. At that time, Ricard was charged with two counts of Simple Burglary and one count of Illegal Possession of Stolen Things. He was released on January 8, 2019, after posting bail. As the investigation continued, detectives discovered tens of thousands of dollars in stolen property which Ricard had accumulated and was attempting to sell on social media. The recovered items included welding equipment, generators, power tools, industrial items, shop vacuums, and various random items that individuals were keeping in self-storage units. New arrest warrants were obtained. Then on February 14, 2019, Ricard was booked again on the December 2018 charges due to a bond surrender. Per the new warrants, he was additionally booked with two more counts of Illegal Possession of Stolen Things and one count of Contempt of Court for the Town of Golden Meadow.

Meanwhile, detectives have been seeking out property owners to return the stolen items which were recovered. Thus far, detectives have identified eight more victims who had property stolen. This led to detectives obtaining warrants for eight more counts of possession of stolen property. Including his December arrest, Ricard now stands as charged with two counts of Simple Burglary, five counts of Felony Illegal Possession of Stolen Things, and six counts of Misdemeanor Illegal Possession of Stolen Things. His bail is set at $182,500 for those charges, but he is also being held for Louisiana Probation and Parole due to a parole violation.

Investigators are continuing to try to identify the owners of stolen property. Anyone who is currently leasing a self-storage unit should also check their units to see if any items have been stolen. Residents and business owners in the South Lafourche area should also check outside sheds, carports, patios, and any unsecured areas to ensure no items have been stolen. Anyone who finds an item has been stolen should contact Detective Steve Schieffler at (985) 532-4357.

UPDATE: More Victims Identified in Investigation into Cut Off Businessman

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced more victims have been identified in an investigation into the actions of a business owner from Cut Off. Kristian “Kris” Gaudet, 45, now faces 10 counts of Felony Theft and Money Laundering, as well as charges of Racketeering and Exploitation of the Infirmed. This investigation is continuing in coordination with the FBI, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Office, and the Fraud Division of the Louisiana Department of Insurance.

As previously released, the investigation began in late 2018 when a couple became suspicious of investments made with Gaudet, owner of Kris Gaudet Insurance and Financial Services. Detectives found Gaudet provided false information on an investment company which he also owned. Detectives discovered Gaudet deposited the couple’s $350,000 investment into the company account and then transferred most of it to another of his accounts. Gaudet was initially arrested in January 2019. After his arrest, five additional victims came forward, and detectives found evidence of money laundering and racketeering. In February 2019, additional charges were filed.

Since that time, three more victims have come forward. Following those investigations, detectives obtained warrants in those cases as well. Gaudet now faces charges involving ten separate victims.

In all, Gaudet is now charged with ten counts of Felony Theft, ten counts of Money Laundering, and one count of Racketeering. Due to the age of some of the victims, Gaudet is also charged with four counts of Exploitation of the Infirmed. At one point, his bail amount was as high as $4.85 million. His bail was reduced by the 17th Judicial District Court in February with the condition that Gaudet must wear an ankle monitor if he were to be released on bail. With the new charges, his total bail amount is now set at $680,000.

Once again, detectives are asking anyone who has made an investment with Gaudet and his company since 2012 to please come forward if your investment has not been fully returned. Anyone with insurance policies obtained through Gaudet and his company is also asked to contact their primary insurer listed on documents to ensure your account is in good standing. Anyone with any discrepancies is asked to contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at (985) 532-4320.