In New Orleans, a former police sergeant has pleaded guilty to defrauding his department and a local patrol service, admitting to billing for work he didn't do and double-billing when he did. Todd F. Morrell, 57, faced charges for his scheme, which lasted from early 2017 until late 2021, running parallel with his duties at the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) and the separate New Orleans Fair Grounds Neighborhood Patrol.
According to a Department of Justice release, Morrell was involved in a number of fraudulent activities, often claiming to be working for both the NOPD and the Fair Grounds Patrol simultaneously, while actually missing from both duties and instead engaging in personal hobbies such as recreational race car driving. Despite annual attestations of compliance with NOPD policies, Morrell's actions over the years amounted to a betrayal of trust, with fraudulent time sheets detailed in six counts to which he pled guilty.
The severity of Morrell's actions elicited a strong response from authorities, with "When anyone commits fraud, our office will vet, investigate, and if warranted, prosecute," stated U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil of FBI New Orleans condemned Morrell's breach of trust, emphasizing that his actions not only tarnished his role but also negatively influenced other officers; "His actions served as a horrible example for other officers, but today's plea serves as a promise that the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office will pursue every single case to ensure justice is served," he said, further thanking the New Orleans Inspector General's Office for their role in the investigation, as reported by the Department of Justice.
Morrell's sentencing is set for February 25, 2025, and he faces severe repercussions for his actions, including the potential of up to 20 years in prison for each count alongside financial penalties. The work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation was highlighted by U.S. Attorney Evans, who also thanked the City of New Orleans Office of Inspector General for their assistance in bringing Morrell's misconduct to light; the case itself is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg and Brittany L. Reed of the Public Integrity Unit.
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