Lafayette businessmen face prison for bribery charges
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- Joseph Prejean and Leonard Franques, two businessmen from Lafayette, were sentenced for their roles in a kickback scheme involving the Lafayette District Attorney's Office and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Prejean received an 18-month prison sentence, a $40,000 fine and three years of supervised release, while Franques was sentenced to 12 months in prison, a $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release. Both men pleaded guilty to charges related to the scheme, which involved monetary kickbacks from vendors providing services to the aforementioned offices.
During the sentencing, U.S. Attorneys highlighted Prejean's cooperation and remorse, suggesting he receive a lighter sentence. Prejean's attorney, Donald Washington, emphasized his client's community support and character.
Franques' attorney described him as a man of integrity and faith, who deeply regrets his actions. Franques himself expressed remorse and took full responsibility for his involvement.
The kickback scheme was uncovered following a federal investigation into contracts for hunting and boating education courses. These contracts allegedly resulted in monetary kickbacks for Prejean, Franques and other co-conspirators.
In 2023, Prejean admitted to participating in a scheme to profit from the 15th Judicial District's pre-trial intervention program. In 2024, Franques signed a plea deal for conspiracy to commit bribery involving the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Prejean appeared in court with his family and supporters, and his attorney noted the wide range of support from community figures and state representatives.
Franques read a personal statement during his sentencing, acknowledging the damage to his reputation and expressing his intention to take responsibility for his actions.
Both men are scheduled to report to prison by Jan. 6, 2026. Franques has requested to serve his time in a facility in Montgomery, Alabama, due to medical needs.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KLFY. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KLFY staff before being published.