Louisiana § RS 14:140 - Public contract fraud

§ RS 14:140. Public contract fraud

A.  Public contract fraud is committed:

(1)  When any public officer or public employee shall use his power or position as such officer or employee to secure any expenditure of public funds to himself, or to any partnership of which he is a member, or to any corporation of which he is an officer, stockholder, or director.

(2)  When any member of any public board, body, or commission charged with the custody, control, or expenditure of any public funds votes for or uses his influence to secure any expenditure of such funds to himself, or to any partnership of which he is a member, or to any corporation of which he is an officer, director, or stockholder.

(3)  When any sheriff charged with the duties of enforcing the laws of this state or any political subdivision thereof shall enter into a contract, either written or oral, individually or as a member or stockholder of any partnership, company, or corporation, with any such person whereby such sheriff or partnership, company, or corporation, of which he is a member or stockholder is to perform any services of a law enforcement nature; provided, however, a deputy sheriff may, as an employee only, perform services of a law enforcement nature for any person, partnership, company, or corporation, but only if the deputy sheriff fulfills his employee performance requirements while not on official duty.

B.  The fact that an expenditure has been made to any party named in Paragraphs (1) and (2) of Subsection A of this Section, or to any partnership of which he is a member, or to any corporation of which he is an officer, stockholder, or director, shall be presumptive evidence that such person has used his power, position, or influence to secure such expenditure.

C.(1)  Whoever commits the crime of public contract fraud shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than two years, or both.

(2)  In addition to the penalty provided for in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, a person convicted of the provisions of this Section may be ordered to pay restitution to the state if the state suffered a loss as a result of the offense.  Restitution shall include the payment of legal interest at the rate provided in R.S. 13:4202.

Amended by Acts 1968, No. 487, §1; Acts 1979, No. 562, §1; Acts 2010, No. 811, §1, eff. Aug. 15, 2011.