The former warden of the Avoyelles Correctional Center in Cottonport, Louisiana, pleaded guilty for a scheme to steal more than $150,000 in taxpayer money for his personal benefit.
Nathan Burl Cain II, 51, of Moreauville, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud. A trial started on Monday related to an indictment filed on August 11, 2017 charging Nathan Cain with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 17 counts of wire fraud. The trial ended with his plea to two 20-year counts in the indictment.
According to the guilty plea, Nathan Cain conspired with his ex-wife Tonia Bandy Cain, 43, who served as the manager of the business office of the facility, to use Louisiana Department of Corrections bank cards to purchase personal items, while misrepresenting that such items were purchased for official business. The bank cards were used to purchase furniture, pet supplies, toilet paper, gun parts, Christmas decorations, yard tools, tires, a pressure cooker that was given as a gift to a third party, and other items.
Additionally, Nathan Cain commissioned the construction of a house on prison grounds for himself and did not bid the construction as required by law. Instead, purchases for the construction were made on bank cards on separate occasions for supplies and materials. Nathan Cain structured the purchases so that they would avoid detection by Department of Corrections monitors.
“Today’s conviction should serve as a warning to any other public official in Louisiana who intends to use public office to illegally line their own pockets,” Joseph stated.
“Justice was done today,” stated Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street. “The manner in which Nate Cain repeatedly and brazenly stole money from Louisiana taxpayers was shocking and showed a staggering sense of entitlement on his part. This case should send a message in the strongest possible terms that we have zero tolerance for it, and will continue to do everything in our power to bring about severe criminal consequences whenever and wherever there is corruption by Louisiana public officials. results.”
Nathan Cain faces up to 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine per count and restitution not to exceed $152,364.69. Tonya Cain pleaded guilty on July 9, 2018 to wire fraud conspiracy.