THIBODEAUX CONVICTED OF MULTIPLE FELONY COUNTS

     On Tuesday, May 28, 2019, an Iberia Parish jury convicted Michael Thibodeaux, 63, of fourteen felonies related to his position as the elected Iberia Parish Clerk of Court. 
 
     Thibodeaux’s convictions stem from a legislative audit and subsequent Louisiana State Police investigation into the Iberia Parish Clerk of Court’s office.  The investigation revealed multiple instances of fraudulent and deceitful conduct done at the direction of the defendant.  For instance, the investigation revealed that the defendant transferred fees that should have been returned to litigants into his office’s salary fund. Further, the defendant concealed the transfers by creating false entries in his accounting system and creating duplicate checks payable to his office.  The investigation also revealed that the defendant concealed a box of cash containing public monies in the closet of his office and, by the close of the investigation, over $5,000 of public funds were unaccounted for.  Additionally, the defendant used “rewards points” from a public credit card to pay for a personal vacation.
 
     In June of 2018, a grand jury indicted the defendant for one count of Racketeering; two counts of Theft over $25,000; one count of Theft over $5,000 but less than $25,000; seven counts of Malfeasance in Office; two counts of Filing or Maintaining False Public Records, and one count of Perjury. The charge of perjury stems from false statements made by the defendant in his testimony to the grand jury. 
 
     After a multi-day trial, Thibodeaux was convicted of all counts of the indictment.
 
     Assistant District Attorneys Craig Colwart and Alister Charrier prosecuted the case. 
 
     A sentencing hearing is set before the Honorable Lewis H. Pitman on June 21, 2019.  Thibodeaux faces up to fifty years at hard labor for his convictions. 
 
     District Attorney Duhé extends his appreciation to the jury and Judge Pitman and his staff for their tireless work, to the Legislative Auditors and the Louisiana State Police for their thorough and professional investigation, and to Alister Charrier and Craig Colwart for their professionalism and commitment to ensure that the truth of these allegations came to light.