- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Former Louisiana Wildlife Chief Pleads Guilty in Bribery Scheme
Montoucet faces up to 5 years in prison for conspiracy to commit bribery.
Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:49pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Jack Montoucet, the former Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, has pleaded guilty in federal court to one felony count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Montoucet was initially indicted in May 2025 on charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Why it matters
This case highlights ongoing concerns about public corruption and the misuse of government contracts and resources for personal gain. As a high-ranking state official, Montoucet's guilty plea raises questions about oversight and accountability within Louisiana's wildlife and natural resources agencies.
The details
According to the indictment, from May 2020 to June 2022 Montoucet conspired with Dusty Guidry and Leonard C. Franques IV to accept kickbacks from Franques in exchange for influencing the awarding of a state contract. Montoucet initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty on the single count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
- Montoucet was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025.
- Montoucet was scheduled to have a jury trial on May 11, 2026.
- Montoucet pleaded guilty on March 31, 2026.
- Montoucet's sentencing is scheduled for June 30, 2026.
The players
Jack Montoucet
The former Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery.
Dusty Guidry
An individual who conspired with Montoucet and Franques in the bribery scheme.
Leonard C. Franques IV
An individual who provided kickbacks to Montoucet in exchange for influencing a state contract.
What’s next
Federal District Judge David Joseph will sentence Montoucet on June 30, 2026.
The takeaway
This guilty plea underscores the importance of strong ethical standards and oversight within state government agencies to prevent abuse of power and protect public resources.
