Traffic Court Employees Indicted For Embezzling Over $109,000.00

ANGELA SHOLES, age 37, and ANGIE CAMPBELL, age 29, residents of New Orleans, Louisiana, were charged in a one-count indictment by a Federal Grand Jury for Conspiring to Commit Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds in connection with a scheme to embezzle over $100,000.00 from Section “D” at New Orleans Traffic Court, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to the indictment, beginning in July 2006, ANGELA SHOLES and ANGIE CAMPBELL who were both employed as Clerks in Section “D” at New Orleans Traffic Court entered into an agreement to steal money paid to New Orleans Traffic Court. The indictment alleges that over a period of approximately six months, SHOLES and CAMPBELL embezzled approximately $109,000.00 in revenue from New Orleans Traffic Court which accounts for approximately one month’s total revenue for the court. A portion of the revenue collected by New Orleans Traffic Court for traffic violations and court costs fund the following programs and agencies: Crimestoppers, Orleans Parish Criminal Court, Orleans Parish District Attorney, Police Training Center, Municipal Court, Orleans Parish Indigent Defender Fund, Probation, and the Victims of Crime Fund.

According to the indictment, from on or about July 2006 through on or about December 2006, ANGELA SHOLES and ANGIE CAMPBELL stole approximately $109,000.00 from New Orleans Traffic Court. ANGELA SHOLES and ANGIE CAMPBELL would collect money for violations and would apply the transaction to a Saturday, Sunday, or Holiday, thereby attempting to avoid detection. ANGELA SHOLES and ANGIE CAMPBELL would provide fraudulent receipts to individuals who paid their Section “D” traffic violations. In addition, ANGELA SHOLES and ANGIE CAMPBELL destroyed court records in order to conceal their crimes.

This indictment comes one week after the indictment of DAVID “DOC” WILLIAMS, age 48, and ALFRED MILLER, age 55, residents of New Orleans, who were charged in a one count indictment for Conspiracy to Commit Computer Fraud in connection with a ticket fixing scheme at New Orleans Traffic Court. WILLIAMS was arrested at Traffic Court on May 31, 2007, by FBI special agents.

According to the MILLER and WILLIAMS’ indictment, beginning approximately five (5) years ago, DAVID “DOC” WILLIAMS and ALFRED MILLER entered into an agreement whereby MILLER would accept cash bribes from friends and collegues charged with Traffic Court violations which MILLER would split with WILLIAMS and, in exchange, WILLIAMS would use his position as Clerk in Section B at New Orleans Traffic Court to dismiss the pending violations. On February 5, 2007, defendant ALFRED MILLER, agreed to have two traffic violations dismissed in exchange for approximately three hundred dollars ($300.00). One violation was for excessive speeding and the other for no proof of insurance. On February 27, 2007, defendant ALFRED MILLER, contacted defendant DAVID WILLIAMS who agreed to dismiss the Traffic Court Case in exchange for a cash bribe. That same day DAVID WILLIAMS had the New Orleans Traffic Court Case dismissed. DAVID WILLIAMS then provided ALFRED MILLER a one page document entitled “Nolle Prosequi” signed by a Deputy Clerk as proof that the case was dismissed, in exchange, MILLER paid WILLIAMS approximately $100.00 for having the case dismissed.

If convicted, ANGELA SHOLES, ANGIE CAMPBELL, DAVID “DOC” WILLIAMS and ALFRED MILLER each face a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a fine of $250,000.00 and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.