Three individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury for selling non-authentic paintings falsely attributed to Clementine Hunter, Acting United States Attorney William J. Flanagan announced today.

WILLIAM TOYE, age 78, of Baton Rouge; BERYL ANN TOYE, age 68, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and ROBERT E. LUCKY, JR., age 62, of New Orleans, Louisiana, were named in a four-count indictment which charges all three defendants with mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

Clementine Hunter was an African-American folk artist who lived in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. Ms. Hunter began painting in the late 1930′s and continued to paint until a few days before her death on January 1, 1988. The value of Ms. Hunter’s paintings vary and are actively sold on the open art market.

The indictment alleges that beginning sometime in 2000 and continuing until September 30, 2009, the defendants conspired to defraud several collectors of Ms. Hunter’s paintings by misrepresenting the authenticity and origin of the paintings that LUCKY sold on behalf of the TOYES. The indictment also alleges that the defendants committed three counts of mail fraud in furtherance of the conspiracy.

If convicted of conspiracy, the defendants face a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years, a $250,000 fine or both.

All defendants have been ordered to appear for arraignment on March 17, 2010 at 10:00 a.m., before United States Magistrate Judge James D. Kirk.

An indictment is merely an accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alexandria Resident Agency, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander C. Van Hook and Cytheria D. Jernigan.

The father of William Theriot, who was recently charged in the hit & run death of Chad Gaubert of Paradis, sent us this letter in response to the charges filed against his son. The accident occurred in St. Charles Parish.

Here is a link to the original story

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We do not condone our sons action. Now its ludicrous His charges are stiffened to hit and run felony & charging him as the driver & REDUCING HER CHARGES. This is injustice & the DA’s office has a gag order Curruption? Joel Chaisson is her attorney the President Pro Temp in La House of Representatives. That is stroke in… St Charles Parish. Please pray for our son William and put justice back into the system. btw…she is out with only a 5k bail and he is still in jail on $150k bond requirement makes one wonder if  “all men are created equal”.  If anyone knows stuff on her confessions as her hitting this man or even the belief that she was drunk/stoned or things to help Billy especially her saying she drove after getting out the car and looking at the victim please send me an email. Lets pray for the victim may he rest in peace. Perhaps we can start a collection for legal defense and incareration expenses….maybe even ask one of the banks to be a collection point for donations … please cut and paste these comments into your facebook/myspace/twitter accounts and spread the word of what is going on … we have to stop this injustice before this state becomes known as a banana republic…

Robert Theriot
theriot1254@aol.com

On January 1, 2010, at approximately 2:48 AM, Troop B was notified of a man’s body lying on the shoulder of the road on US 90 east at mile post 235, which is approximately 0.4 miles west of LA 632. The man was identified as Chad M. Gaubert (W/M, age 28) of Paradis, LA.

On Saturday, January 02, 2010, Jennifer Theriot (W/F, age 28) and William Theriot (W/M, age 30), both of Lockport, LA, entered the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office and turned themselves in, admitting they hit a pedestrian on US 90 east on January 1, 2010. Jennifer Theriot told investigators that she was driving a 2008 Jeep Wrangler and hit a pedestrian that was walking in the middle of the roadway. William Theriot was a passenger in the Jeep at the time of the crash. After hitting the pedestrian, both Jennifer and William Theriot exited the Jeep an observed the victim lying on the roadway. Without rendering aid or reporting the crash, they then fled the scene.

Jennifer Theriot was booked into St. Charles Parish lock-up for Felony Hit and Run. William Theriot was also booked for Accessory After the Fact relating to the Felony Hit and Run.