The executive director of the Queensborough Neighborhood Association pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court today to misspending association funds.
Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator and District Attorney Charles Scott said Lola May appeared in court and entered a plea to the charge of unauthorized use of a moveable (money). As part of the plea agreement, May must immediately resign her positions as the QNA executive director and a member of the Caddo Parish School Board. She also agreed to never seek public office again.
May's plea followed a lengthy investigation by the Caddo Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Unit, Caddo DA's Office, and Louisiana State Police which began in 2009 during an investigation of Shreveport's Community Development Department.
The Caddo Sheriff's Office seized records from the QNA offices at 2756 Greenwood Road during the execution of a search warrant on September 11. Additional records were collected over the next several months after subpoenas were issued to numerous financial institutions. A review of those records revealed May used QNA money to make several loans to friends and business associates. The money was also used to pay May's personal debts.
In court today, May pleaded guilty to writing a $2,300 check to Santana Brown to cover a hot check written by Brown.Brown's hot check had been turned over to the DA's Office.
Prator said the investigation revealed May used QNA funds much like a "personal bank." She charged meals and trips and loaned her friends more than $10,000.
"Mrs. May's use of this money was without authorization," Prator said. "There were other serious, felony charges that could have applied but removing her from office where she would no longer have access to public or association money seemed like the best disposition to this case."
Prator said the Sheriff's Special Investigations Unit, which was formed in November 2009, is actively investigating other public corruption cases. "I'm warning anyone who is misusing public money that we are going to find you," he said.
Scott said, "These actions essentially fire a warning shot across the bow of any person or group receiving and co-mingling public funds. They also serve as a wake-up call to each public agency giving money to organizations that are not sufficiently monitored.
"The combined effort of the Sheriff's Office, District Attorney's Office, and State Police helps restore public confidence," Scott continued. "Caddo Parish has a great future and these efforts help ensure that future."
The hotline number to report public corruption to the Caddo Sheriff's Office is 213-TELL or 213-8355.
