The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Texas and Louisiana, along with local law enforcement authorities, are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Anthony Wayne O’Neal.

O’Neal is wanted in Temple, Texas for a murder that occurred on August 22, 2010 and a sexual assault in Lorena, Texas. O’Neal then allegedly stole the sexual assault victim’s vehicle, which was recovered in Rayne, Louisiana on August 23, 2010. The FBI obtained a federal fugitive warrant. It is believed O’Neal has ties to the New Orleans area.

O’Neal is a black male, date of birth August 13, 1969, height 6’3”, weight 180-200 lbs. He has recently been seen with short dreadlocks and a goatee. He should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI in New Orleans at 504-816-3000, your local FBI office or police department.

MATTHEW B. PIZZOLATO, age 26, of Tickfaw, Louisiana, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to thirty (30) years (360 months) in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition, the defendant was ordered to serve three (3) years of supervised release during which time the defendant will be under federal supervision and risk additional imprisonment should he violate any terms of the release.

In sentencing the defendant, Judge Africk admonished PIZZOLATO stating that the defendant “stole from hard working Americans” and “swindled the salt of the earth.” Judge Africk further told the defendant that “because of you, many must find ways to pay for their daily bread.”

According to court documents, PIZZOLATO pled guilty on April 1, 2010 to numerous federal charges including mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, securities fraud, and witness tampering involving his operation of an investment Ponzi scheme. During the time period of 2005 through the date of the indictment, PIZZOLATO spent nearly all of the money. Pursuant to his plea agreement, PIZZOLATO will be ordered to make restitution in the amount of over $15 million to the 165 victims he defrauded.

PIZZOLATO admitted that since 2005, he was affiliated with and/or operated and/or owned Gulf Region Guaranty, Inc. and its affiliated companies Acadian Guaranty Group, LLC; Allegiance Financial, LLC; Annuity Presets, LLC; Annuity Recovery Services, LLC; Anova Marketing Systems, LLC; Anytime Fitness of Sulphur, LLC; Cornerstone Wealth Management, LLC; Global Assured Financial, Inc.; Green Pelican Group, Inc.; Gulf States Guaranty, LLC; GRG Holdings, LLC; GRG I, LLC; GRG II, LLC; Matt P, LLC; National Insurance Advisors, LLC; Pelican Guaranty Group, Inc.; and Spectrum Lending Group, LLC. PIZZOLATO maintained offices in Hammond, Covington, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, and also conducted business in the New Orleans metropolitan area.

During this time period, PIZZOLATO operated an investment Ponzi scheme targeting older investors, specifically retirees. He admitted that he lured his potential victims through advertisements in the local daily newspapers in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Hammond by promising rates of returns that were higher than market rates for CDs or U.S. Treasury Bills. These advertisements described PIZZOLATO’S investments as “guaranteed,”“safe,”“conservative,”“insured,” and “no-risk.” In many cases, PIZZOLATO would assure investors that they were invested in U.S. Treasury Bills, CDs, or another government-backed securities.

PIZZOLATO admitted that used the investors’ money to build a new half-million dollar home in Ponchatoula, Louisiana; to purchase luxury items such as a BMW 750LI, a Mercedes Benz S430V, a Range Rover Sport, and a Chevrolet Corvette, and a $35,000.00 engagement ring; to make payments totaling millions of dollars to friends and family; to make invest in high-risk futures trading and/or commercial real estate; and to provide lulling payments to investors in an effort to conceal the true nature of the Ponzi scheme.

Speaking to today’s sentencing, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten stated: “Today’s powerful 30-year federal prison sentence handed down by U.S. District Africk against convicted swindler Matthew Pizzolato will hopefully serve as a stark deterrent to those calculating predators who, like Pizzolato, may seek to prey on the trust and innocence of hard working citizens. The human wreckage of broken lives, dreams, and peace of mind—as well as stolen life savings—is shockingly evident in this case and in the tragedies of the victims whom Pizzolato hunted. Our hope is that these decent, trusting victims can begin to find some sense of justice and peace knowing that this criminal will not steal again.

David Welker, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, added: “Today’s sentencing should send a clear message that FBI New Orleans, along with our law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue allegations of financial crimes, especially those that victimize our most vulnerable citizens. Mr. Pizzolato targeted senior citizens for his own gain. Personalizing this—what if it was your own mother, father or grandparent!? Mr. Pizzolato’s actions were reprehensible and his punishment reflects the seriousness of his crime.”

Michael J. De Palma, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, New Orleans Field Office, added: “Today’s sentencing shows the justice system takes this type of crime very seriously. Mr. Pizzolato will spend a significant portion of his life paying for what he has done to others—robbing them of their life’s savings. Special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation are highly trained investigators who specialize in financial crimes of greed. We are committed in our efforts and will continue to work with our Law Enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to pursue evidence of criminal activity wherever it leads.”

U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Keith E. Milke stated: “Frauds against the elderly are a priority for the Postal Inspection Service and we will continue to work closely with our partners to aggressively investigate these types of crimes.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, State of Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions, and United States Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brian M. Klebba, Matthew Chester and André Lagarde of the Financial Crimes Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office.

Six officers with the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) were charged todayin connection with the federal investigation of a police-involved shooting on the Danziger Bridge in the days after Hurricane Katrina, the Justice Department announced today. The incident resulted in the death of two civilians and the wounding of four others.

The indictment charges four officers—Kenneth Bowen, Robert Gisevius, Robert Faulcon, and Anthony Villavaso—in connection with the shootings, and charges those four officers and two supervisors—Arthur “Archie” Kaufman and Gerard Dugue—with helping to obstruct justice during the subsequent investigations.

The indictment alleges that officers Bowen, Gisevius, Faulcon and Villavaso open fired on an unarmed family on the east side of the bridge, killing 17-year-old James Brissette and wounding Susan Bartholomew, 38; Leonard Bartholomew, III, 44; the Bartholomews’ daughter, Lesha, 17; and the Bartholomews’ nephew, Jose Holmes, 19. The Bartholomews’ 14-year-old son ran away from the shooting and was fired at, but was not injured.

The second shooting occurred minutes later on the west side of the bridge, where officers shot at brothers Lance and Ronald Madison, killing Ronald, a 40-year-old man with severe mental disabilities. The indictment alleges Faulcon shot Ronald Madison in the back as Ronald ran away. Bowen is charged with stomping and kicking Ronald Madison while Ronald was wounded, but not yet dead. Ronald later died at the scene.

“As our investigation of the Danziger Bridge incident shows, the Justice Department will vigorously pursue anyone who allegedly violated the law,” said Attorney General Holder. “Put simply, we will not tolerate wrongdoing by those who have sworn to protect the public.”

“In the days following Hurricane Katrina, the people of New Orleans were relying upon law enforcement to protect public safety. The officers indicted today are accused of abusing their power and violating their public trust. Today’s indictment exemplifies the department’s commitment to aggressively prosecute any officer who violates the law either by engaging in misconduct or a conspiracy to deny justice,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.

“Today’s indictment should serve as compelling evidence of our unswerving and unconditional commitment to achieve essential goals: to achieve true justice for any victims of the charged killings, shootings and abuse on the Danziger Bridge, and the alleged corrupt cover-up that followed; to unmask and bring to justice those officers who according to the indictment abused their power in committing violent crimes against the unarmed citizens they were sworn to protect; to restore the trust in the men and women of law enforcement who do serve the people and honor the badge; and to make certain that no one should ever have to fear those whose job it is to protect them,” said Jim Letten, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

“The charges announced in today’s indictment show the commitment by the FBI to hold individuals who break the law accountable, regardless of their positions in a community or the circumstances under which the crimes occurred,” said Kevin L. Perkins, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division.

“One year ago, FBI New Orleans made a commitment to dedicate all the necessary resources to ensure this matter was thoroughly and fairly investigated to a logical conclusion. Today’s indictments indicate that we continue to honor that commitment,” said David W. Welker, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office.

The four officers charged with killing civilians face maximum penalties of life in prison or the death penalty. The officers face additional penalties for the remaining counts, which include charges related to a conspiracy to cover up what had happened on the bridge, and conspiracies to file charges against two of the victims, Lance Madison and Jose Holmes, on the basis of false evidence.

According to the indictment, officers at the scene of the shooting arrested Lance Madison and charged him with eight counts of attempting to kill police officers. Officers collected no guns or shell casings on the day of the shooting, and 30 casings they collected more than a month later were allegedly fired by officers rather than civilians. Madison was held in jail for three weeks, but was eventually released without indictment.

The indictment accuses Kaufman and Dugue of joining the other four defendants in a conspiracy to cover up what had happened on the bridge and to make the shootings appear justified. Kaufman is charged with obtaining a gun from his home and claiming to have found the gun at the bridge on the day after the shooting, and with making up witnesses and then creating statements from the fictional witnesses to help justify the shooting. Kaufman and Dugue are also accused of holding a meeting, in an abandoned and gutted out NOPD building, at which homicide sergeants instructed officers involved in the shooting to get their stories straight before giving formal audiotaped statements about the shooting.

Kaufman and Dugue, who concluded in a formal report that the shooting was justified and that Lance Madison and Jose Holmes should be arrested, are also accused of conspiring with each other and with other officers to have Madison and Holmes prosecuted on the basis of false evidence.

Kaufman faces a maximum penalty of 120 years in prison, and Dugue faces a maximum penalty of 70 years in prison.

Today’s indictment follows guilty pleas from five former NOPD officers who admitted that they participated in a conspiracy to obstruct justice and cover up what happened on Sept. 4, 2005. The officers include former Lieutenant Michael Lohman, former detective Jeffrey Lehrmann, and former Officers Michael Hunter, Robert Barrios, and Ignatius Hills.

The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This case, which is ongoing, is being investigated by the FBI’s New Orleans Field Office, and is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Bobbi Bernstein and Trial Attorney Forrest Christian of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia K. Evans of the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert Barham announced the following closure to recreational and commercial fishing in portions of inside and outside waters in Terrebonne, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes and inside waters in Lafourche and Jefferson parishes effective immediately today, July 1.

These are precautionary fishing closures are due to strong east to southeast winds and higher than normal tides influenced by Hurricane Alex and the proximity of oil in portions of inshore and offshore state waters.

Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes
The portion of state inside waters south of 29 degrees 13 minutes 12 seconds north latitude from the Houma Navigation Canal red buoy line westward to the eastern shore of Oyster Bayou and the portion of state outside waters from 90 degrees 46 minutes 01 seconds west longitude westward to 91 degrees 07 minutes 48 seconds west longitude near the eastern shore of Oyster Bayou.

Lafourche and Jefferson Parishes
The portion of state inside waters south of 29 degrees 16 minutes 00 seconds north latitude from 90 degrees 07 minutes 00 seconds west longitude westward to the eastern shore of Bayou Lafourche.

Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes
The open waters of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds as described by the double-rig line and all state outside waters east of the Mississippi River.

Precautionary closures of recreational and commercial fishing have been implemented based on the best information the Secretary of the department receives from field biologists, staff and trajectory models from NOAA.

Once reports of oil are received, LDWF initiates a field survey and immediate seafood testing in the suspected areas. Closures are subsequently made with the intent to be as safe as possible, while not closing any fishing areas unnecessarily. As test results come back clearing the area, effected waters are then reopened.

LDWF continues to work closely with DHH in an effort to assess all opportunities to resume normal fishing activities on Louisiana’s coast and guarantee the safety of Louisiana’s seafood.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission has been awarded three National Emergency Grants, including a $10 million grant to provide employment-related assistance and retraining for people who have lost their jobs because of the oil spill.

Funds from that grant will fund a variety of services, including basic skills and job skills assessments, training and job placement assistance. The grant also covers services for people who have lost work as a direct result of the spill, such as shrimpers, and as an indirect result of the spill, such as those affected by the federal moratorium on some offshore drilling.

“This grant will help prepare people for other careers as they deal with the effects of the oil spill disaster on their lives, families and communities,” said Curt Eysink, executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission. “The full costs of providing these employment services for all the people who ultimately may need them could be significantly greater than $10 million, and we will pursue additional funding as the need arises.”

The grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor, will fund services in the following parishes: Acadia, Allen, Assumption, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, and Vermilion.

Services funded by the grant will be provided in connection with existing workforce development programs operated by the LWC. Grant services will be provided through the LWC’s network of Business and Career Solutions Centers and mobile units in the affected parishes. Training will be provided by public institutions, such as community and technical colleges, and by certified private training providers.

Other grants
In addition, a supplemental $2.03 million NEG was awarded to continue to provide services to about 950 workers affected by closures and mass layoffs from multiple companies throughout Louisiana, as well to provide services to new participants dislocated from Lockheed Martin as a result of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s retirement of the Space Shuttle program.

Parishes covered by the supplemental grant are Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Jefferson, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Orleans, Plaquemines, Red River, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Tammany, and Webster.

Also, the LWC received a $1.4 million statewide On-the-Job Training NEG to help dislocated workers secure employment and receive training to upgrade their skills or acquire new skills for jobs in new and emerging industries.

Workforce Commission services are offered at no cost to employers and participating job seekers.