A New Orleans man is accused of quietly siphoning more than $100,000 from the Lockport company where he worked, in what investigators say was a years-long run of cutting checks to himself.
On Wednesday, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested 50-year-old Marcus Smith in the Lockport area, accusing him of diverting company funds through dozens of fraudulent payments over roughly three years. Smith was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex and faces 27 counts of felony theft and one count of misdemeanor theft, with his bond set at $405,000, according to NOLA.
Sheriff's office: Dozens of checks tied to employee
Detectives with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office say their investigation found Smith had allegedly written more than 28 checks to himself over the last three years, with 27 of those payments topping $1,000 each, according to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office.
The company’s owner told investigators he confronted Smith about the suspicious checks. Smith allegedly apologized and promised to repay the money, but the sheriff’s office says that payback never happened.
Charges, booking and what comes next
The accusations against Smith, outlined by NOLA, include multiple felony theft counts that carry significant prison time if he is convicted. Smith remains in custody at the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex as the case moves through the local court system. Upcoming court records and filings are expected to set formal dates for his arraignment and any hearings.
Fraud investigations remain active in the parish
The sheriff’s office says this is not the only financial-crime case on its radar. Deputies recently publicized a separate investigation involving fraudulent checks sent through the mail, signaling that alleged money schemes are drawing continued scrutiny in Lafourche Parish. The earlier case was described in a post on the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office website.
