District Attorney Charles Ballay reported that Martin Denesse was sentenced on Oct. 6, by Judge Joy Lobrano to serve 15 years at hard labor with the Louisiana Department of Corrections for the crime of Theft of Funds and Unauthorized Use of Funds. These crimes occurred from January 2007 through January 2009, when Denesse embezzled funds for his personal use that had been paid by applicants for mobile homes in Plaquemines Parish due to the loss of their homes after Hurricane Katrina.

Specifically, Mr. Denesse was sentenced to 10 years for Theft, consecutive with 5 years for each count of Unauthorized Use of Movables, concurrent with one another. All but 2 years of the sentence was suspended.

Additionally, Martin Denesse was ordered to pay $363,000 to 165 remaining victims. For partial payment, the defendant conveyed $22,000 plus immovable property valued at $225,000. Upon release from jail, defendant will be placed Active Probation and ordered to pay $1,000 per month through the District Attorney’s Office in restitution until all victims are paid in full.

Denesse was sentenced on two felony drug offenses.

The case was handled by 1st Assistant District Attorney, Robert White.