United States of America v. Jack Montoucet

Lafayette, Louisiana, criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendant charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Jack Montoucet agreed, while Secretary of the LDWF, to steer a LDWF contract to a company called DGL1, LLC, in exchange for one-third of the profit that would result from the contract, with the other two-thirds divided between Montoucet’s two conspirators, Dusty Guidry and Leonard Franques. On January 27, 2021, Montoucet caused LDWF to award a no-bid contract to DGL1 to provide online hunter and boater education courses. Then, when the Louisiana Department of Administration, Office of Special Procurement raised concerns about the no-bid contract, the LDWF put out a public bid for the contract that Montoucet influenced for DGL1 to win. Then, on October 8, 2021, Montoucet acted on behalf of LDWF as Secretary to sign a contract with DGL1 to provide the hunter and boater classes, knowing he was to receive bribery kickbacks from the contract. A month later, Montoucet met with Franques and Guidry to discuss how to conceal and disguise the source, ownership, and payout of these kickbacks, with the parties agreeing that Franques would hold Montoucet’s portion until after he’d departed LDWF and then pay it to him as a “signing bonus” to Montoucet for consulting work.

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Myers P. Namie, Lauren L. Nickel, and LaDonte A. Murphy, along with Trial Attorney Alex Dempsey of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice and with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.


“The citizens of Louisiana deserve and demand honesty and integrity from those entrusted with public office, including when they contract for services on behalf of our Louisiana communities,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Officeholders like Mr. Montoucet who abuse that trust undermine confidence in government and the public contracting process, and our Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute these abuses and see that offenders face justice.”

"Mr. Montoucet helped a co-conspirator get a lucrative state contract to provide online courses for kickbacks," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "Thankfully, there are still good people out there who reached out to the FBI and local law enforcement to report this illegal activity. The FBI and our partners will continue to ensure public officials honor the public’s trust."

“Public officials are entrusted with serving the people – not enriching themselves. Today’s guilty plea makes clear that the defendant abused that trust by engaging in a scheme to manipulate the contract process and steer contracts for personal gain,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office Special Agent in Charge Demetrius D. Hardeman. “We will continue to work in concert with our partner organizations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold accountable those who exploit their official positions for personal profit.”

03/31/2026 29 MINUTES for proceedings held before Judge David C Joseph: CHANGE OF PLEA HEARING as to Jack Montoucet (1) held on 3/31/2026. PLEA ENTERED: Guilty Count 1. Guilty plea accepted. Presentence investigation report ordered. Sentencing set for 6/30/2026 at 10:30 AM in Lafayette, Courtroom 1 before Judge David C Joseph. Sentencing memorandum due by 6/23/2026. Defendant continued on bond pending sentencing. (Court Reporter: Beth Delatte) (crt,YocumSld, M) (Entered: 04/01/2026)
03/31/2026 30 ORAL ORDER OF REFERRAL to Probation for Pre-Sentence Investigation and Report as to Jack Montoucet (1) by Judge David C Joseph on 3/31/2026. (crt,YocumSld, M) (Entered: 04/01/2026)
03/31/2026 31 PLEA AGREEMENT Accepted as to Jack Montoucet (1). (Attachments: # 1 Understanding of Penalties and Rights, # 2 Factual basis for guilty plea, # 3 Elements of offense) (crt,YocumSld, M) (Entered: 04/01/2026)