A former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office employee was taken into custody on Monday, facing multiple charges related to financial crimes. Andrea Baragona, who previously served as a school resource officer, is now confronting accusations including theft, money laundering, and other offenses, according to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Specifically, Baragona was arrested for one count each of theft over $25,000, money laundering between $20,000 and $100,000, false accounting, injuring public records, and malfeasance in office, as detailed in the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office's release. These charges span felony and misdemeanor classifications, with the alleged misconduct not involving any Sheriff’s Office or School Board funds.
The former employee has been associated with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office since April 2013, and her arrest underscores a breach in the trust placed in public servants. Sheriff Randy Smith addressed the incident, emphasizing accountability in his department. "I hold all of our employees to the highest standard. When a public servant breaks the law, that individual must face the consequences," Smith said. Baragona is expected to be booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center.
