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A former Morgan City housing chairman has been sentenced to serve over 2 1/2 years in federal prison in an insider trading case on top of a 15-month sentence for tax evasion.

Victory Ho, 39, of Morgan City, was sentenced Wednesday to 32 months in federal prison following his convictions for securities fraud, commonly known as insider trading, and conspiracy to commit securities fraud, said U.S. Attorney Brandon J. Fremin of the Middle District of Louisiana in a news release.

Ho is a former Morgan City Housing Authority board chairman who resigned from the board in August 2016 after a drug arrest.

District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Ho to the prison time and to serve two years of supervised release following his imprisonment. Ho was also ordered to forfeit over $300,000 and pay a $15,000 fine, the release said.

Following a three week trial in May, a jury found Ho and his co-defendants guilty as charged in connection with an insider trading scheme related to the 2012 acquisition of the Shaw Group by Chicago Bridge and Iron Company.

On Aug. 31, Ho was sentenced in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana to serve 15 months in prison for failing to report over $250,000 in income on his 2012 tax return, a separate news release said.

For filing a false tax return Ho was also sentenced to one year of supervised release and was ordered to pay $69,167 in restitution. According to the May 23 guilty plea, Ho engaged in stock transactions and made $251,196 in 2012, but when he filed his taxes, he reported $14,742 as his income, that release stated.

As a result, he paid no income tax that year, which resulted in a loss of $69,167 to the U.S. Treasury, Western District prosecutors said.

According to evidence presented at Ho’s insider trading trial, in mid-2012, Shaw was considering a potential merger opportunity. At the time, Kelly Liu was a Shaw employee working in the Financial Planning and Analysis Department. In July 2012, Shaw and CB&I came to an agreement on an offer for CB&I to buy Shaw.

The acquisition of Shaw by CB&I was publicly announced July 30, 2012. As a result of the public announcement, Shaw’s stock price rose by around 55 percent, the release said.

The evidence at trial established that, prior to the public announcement and through her job at Shaw, Liu had obtained inside information that Shaw was going to be acquired by another company and had passed the inside information to Ho, through another individual, and to Salvador Russo III for their use in trading Shaw stock and options.

Thereafter, Ho and Russo purchased Shaw stock and options before the public announcement. Ho sold his Shaw options after the public announcement had caused Shaw’s stock price to rise and reaped almost $300,000 from his illegal insider trading, the release said.

During the sentencing hearing, the court found that Ho had obstructed justice through his testimony at the trial.

“Victory Ho is a prime example of someone who, for his own personal benefit, cheated American taxpayers and investors by using information he received illegally,” said Thomas J. Holloman III, special agent in charge, IRS – criminal investigation, in a release.

The insider trading case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana and the Baton Rouge offices of the FBI, Secret Service, and IRS-Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Dippel and Patricia Jones.

The Franklin Police Department is asking for assistance in locating a missing juvenile. Rudy Ottoniel Tiul-Choc, 16, was reported missing by his guardian. Rudy was last seen on October 2, 2018, wearing a white polo shirt and khaki pants. Rudy Tiul-Choc is described as a hispanic male of Guatemala descent, approximately 5'5", weighing approximately 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes and only speaks Spanish. If anyone has any information regarding Rudy Tiul-Choc's whereabouts, you are urged to call the Franklin Police Department at (337) 828-1716. Thanks for all assistance in this matter.

A 43-year-old man was arrested on multiple drug charges after detectives found methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana in a Siracusaville home, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Scott Anslum said in a news release.

—Wilbert Granger III, 43, of Joseph Street in Siracusaville, was arrested at 2:28 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of the uniform controlled dangerous substance law-drug-free zone (church).

Detectives went to a home on Joseph Street in Siracusaville to execute a search warrant. During the investigation, detectives found drugs and drug paraphernalia in the home, Anslum said. Granger was jailed with no bail set.

Anslum reported that deputies responded to 42 complaints and reported the following arrests:

—Galen Ford, 26, of Ditch Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:26 p.m. Wednesday on eight warrants for failure to appear on charges of contempt of court-probation fees, speeding, contempt of court-fine, four counts of contempt of court-terms of probation and disturbing the peace-language.

Deputies patrolling the Morgan City area were dispatched to a business in Bayou Vista in reference to a subject with multiple active warrants through the Morgan City Police Department.

Upon arrival, the deputies located Ford and advised him of the active warrants. Ford was jailed with no bail set.

—Haley Turnage, 32, of Sycamore Street in Pascagoula, Mississippi, was arrested at 8:24 p.m. Wednesday on charges of theft, resisting arrest or officer and misrepresentation during booking.

—Angelo Bernard, 33, of Heydeust Street in Detroit, was arrested at 8:24 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of theft.

Deputies were dispatched to a business in Bayou Vista in reference to a shoplifting complaint in progress. Upon arrival, the deputies located a man and woman identified as Turnage and Bernard.

Through the investigation, deputies found Turnage and Bernard to be in possession of stolen items, Anslum said. Additionally, Turnage gave a false name to the deputies while being arrested. Turnage and Bernard were booked into jail. Bail was set at $1,500 for Bernard. No bail was set for Turnage.

—Donald Goodwin Jr., 26, of Levee Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:53 a.m. Thursday on charges of no license plate light, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

—Kaylin Driskell, 22, of Joseph Street in Baldwin, was arrested at 1:53 a.m. Thursday on charge of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Deputies patrolling the Morgan City area observed a vehicle without a license plate light and proceeded to conduct a traffic stop. The deputies made contact with the driver, Goodwin, and the passenger, Driskell.

During the stop, deputies found marijuana and drug paraphernalia, Blair said. Goodwin and Driskell were each released with a summons to appear Jan. 4, 2019.

Patterson Police Chief Janis Merritt reported the following arrests:

—Lashonta L. Lumpkin, 27, of Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard in Franklin, was arrested at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of disturbing the peace. Lumpkin was released on $355 cash bail.

—Deangela Sophus, 26, of Isabella Street in Franklin, was arrested at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of disturbing the peace. Sophus was jailed on $355 cash bail.

Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported that officers responded to 41 calls and reported the following arrest:

—Tremayne Skinner, 41, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:19 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of parole violation.

Skinner was located at his home on Railroad Avenue and arrested on a warrant for Louisiana Office of Probation and Parole. Skinner was jailed.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

September 28, 1948-October 1, 2018
Patricia Lynne North Russo, 70, a resident of Morgan City, passed away Monday, October 1, 2018.
Lynne was born September 28, 1948, in Bogalusa, the daughter of Kendall E. North Sr. and Ann Mitchell North.
Lynne will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her husband, James :Jimmy” Russo of Morgan City; two sons, Ryan Russo and wife Marquee of Morgan City and Matthew Wade Richie Russo and wife Mary Hadaway Duhon Russo of Morgan City; one sister, Marsha Bath and husband Fred of Houston; and four grandchildren, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Duhon, Andrew James Hadaway, Tyler Joseph Russo and Khyla Marie Mcintyre.
Lynne was preceded in death by her parents, Kendall and Ann North; and one brother, Kendall North Jr.
Lynne was a St. Mary Parish educator serving as principal of Maitland Elementary in Morgan City from 1988 to 1991, principal of J.S. Aucoin Elementary in Amelia from 1991 to 2001 and Instructional Specialist for St. Mary Parish public schools from 2001 until her retirement in 2004. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Lynne will forever be remembered to those she has positively impacted and also by her beautiful contagious smile.
A Memorial Service will be held at Pharr Chapel (517 Federal Avenue, Morgan City) Monday, October 29, 2018, visitation from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. with service to follow after visitation.