Former Lafayette Assistant District Attorney Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Bribery Scheme

LAFAYETTE- On December 12, 2025, Gary Haynes, 67, of Lafayette, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after his September conviction for conspiracy to engage in bribery, bribery, use of a facility interstate commerce in aid of bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and obstruction of justice.

"Prosecutors bear among the most consequential public trusts in our society, determining matters of liberty, accountability, and the pursuit of justice. Gary Haynes betrayed that system of trust to satisfy his own greed," said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. "This prosecution, which resulted from amazing work by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation, shows the commitment our Office and the Department of Justice has to safeguarding the rule of law and ensuring that those who undermine it are held accountable."

"Mr. Haynes betrayed the trust of the people of Louisiana when he traded his sacred honor for bribes," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field office. "The FBI and the US Attorney's Office are committed to protecting the public from bribery schemes like this one that undermine faith in our great Republic."

"As an Assistant District Attorney, Gary Haynes was entrusted to faithfully perform his duties on behalf of the public," said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. "Instead of putting his public interest above personal gain, he misused his office to enrich himself through bribes and kickbacks from vendors. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue investigating and forwarding for prosecution those who fail to uphold ethics in the public trust."

Evidence presented at the trial revealed that Haynes conspired with Dusty Guidry and Leonard Franques to solicit bribes and kickbacks and to accept things of value while working as an Assistant District Attorney at the 15th Judicial District Attorney's Office. Haynes oversaw the D.A.'s Office's Pretrial Intervention (PTI) program which was a program set up to provide an alternative to criminal prosecution for certain criminal offenders. Haynes approved defendants to participate in the program and then directed them to take classes from Franques's companies. Those defendants paid money to take classes through Franques's companies to complete the program and obtain dismissal of the criminal charges against them from Haynes. Haynes, Guidry, and Franques agreed that Haynes would receive kickbacks in exchange for accepting people into the PTI program, directing those people to Franques's companies, and then dismissing the charges against the people who enrolled in and paid for the courses that Franques's companies provided.

Haynes and his co-conspirators discussed several ways to conceal the nature of the money that Haynes would receive from the kickback scheme, including having Haynes reactivate a defunct company during the conspiracy to hide the proceeds from the kickbacks or potentially providing him with a new truck rather than funnel the kickbacks directly to him. Haynes directed a coconspirator to alter, destroy, and conceal documents and records to prevent their availability in a future proceeding.

The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. The prosecution team included Assistant United States Attorneys John Luke Walker and John W. Nickel, and Steven Loew of the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 24-cr-00206.

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