‘Let’s Talk About Michelle Woodfork’

Following the Money Behind the Sheriff’s Race

The Sheriff is an office created by our state constitution. Their power is difficult to control through the City Council, and after Rep. Mandie Landry filed a bill to allow for term limits, the state Legislature refused to let it out of committee. The voters (and the federal courts) have the only power, which is why we worked so hard to unveil the practices (and donor/contractors) of former Sheriff Marlin Gusman. No politician should engage in “pay to play,” so we are back looking at donors in the 2025 election.  

In both administrations prior to Sheriff Hutson’s tenure, the office had plenty of schemes, such as deputies kicking back a portion of their paychecks to the sheriff’s reelection campaign in exchange for well-paid off-site work “details.” These side jobs allowed for double-dipping (i.e., being paid to work at the jail while actually working event security elsewhere). 

A Powerful Office with Little Oversight

Sheriff Gusman also presided over auctions of foreclosed homes and repossessed cars. This appeared especially shady when we discovered how many of his donors had financial interests in real estate, used cars, used guns, and antique jewelry. Gusman also controlled one of post-Katrina’s largest construction projects: rebuilding the jail. The project is still going, 20 years later, with over $100 million being spent on the jail expansion currently under construction. Ironically, Sheriff Hutson was the only city official fighting against the expense, but she was too late in the process to stop it. 

Until Sheriff Hutson was elected, the Sheriff routinely had widespread support for massive bonds placed on the ballot. Using his constitutional power to raise funds, Sheriff Gusman could unilaterally decide on the financiers and bankers who profit from the deal and control those funds, while we pay back with interest over the years to come.  

We appreciate the City’s new energy in sheriff transparency and accountability. We invite everyone to be mindful, read the fine print, and follow the money. We need to demand civilian oversight and not allow unchecked power to whomever wins the upcoming election. Additionally, all foreclosed homes and repossessed cars are auctioned under their unchecked authority. This drew our attention with Sheriff Gusman’s major donors having financial interests in real estate, used cars, antique jewelry, and used guns. 

Who’s Funding Michelle Woodfork?

Former Interim Police Chief Michelle Woodfork  started her campaign for Sheriff on Valentine’s Day, 2025.  Her first donor, that day, was corporate attorney John Litchfield ($5,000), who has donated to dozens of candidates over the years. Some may be aware of his involvement in the Catholic Church’s bankruptcy case. He also served as Liz Murrill’s campaign chairperson in her successful bid to become Louisiana Attorney General. When Judge Jennifer Medley was facing various allegations of violating campaign rules, including whether a $100,000 loan from Sidney Torres’ IV Capital could be used as a contribution, she told the Judicial Commission that she relied on advice from Litchfield (a lawyer for Torres) that it followed state ethics rules. 

Woodfork’s second donor was Richard Hart, of Covington ($12,000). Marsha Hart from the same address added another $5,000. It is unclear whether this is the same Richard Hart, who was a former state police officer who resigned amid a probe into the workplace culture in Jefferson Parish. Anyone who gives a max contribution this early in a campaign is undoubtedly part of the candidate’s inner circle, and can shed some light on their views and how they may govern. 

Woodfork’s donors, as of October 6, reveal some interesting information.  Specifically, Woodfork is getting a lot of donations from businesses and individuals linked to the prison industrial complex, surveillance, and increased law enforcement.  Each voter should make informed decisions about who to vote for in this election.  We encourage the public to follow the money and ask Woodfork tough questions about these donations to ensure that, should she be elected, she will put the interests of the people of New Orleans before the interests of the corporate donors supporting her campaign.  

  • $12,000 Ally Telecomm Group (Metairie) Jail phone contracts: The company was founded by Mitch Kalifeh and Stacy Tribe, and also regularly contribute to Sheriff’s campaigns like Marlin Gusman’s, and across the state. Unlike the rest of us, a jail phone contract is made between the Sheriff and a phone company, with consumers being forced to pay whatever rate and kickback they agree upon. 

  • $12,000 Network Communications (Longview, TX) jail phone contracts. 

  •  $12,000 Powerhouse Commercial Construction (Suphur)  

  • $12,000 Attorney James M. Williams 

  • $12,000 Attorney El-Amm & Associates 

  • $9,000 from Elite Southern Solutions (Randy Greenup, general contractor) 

  • $10,500 from Crusader 55, LLC (Mandeville) and Chris Stant, who has over a dozen registered LLCs, including three bail bond companies  

  • $7,000 Angela and William “Bill” Hattier (Folsom), head of Sonitrol New Orleans (electronic security systems) 

  • $6,000 Robin Carubba (Metairie) Carubba Engineering 

Woodfork’s other major donors (reported, as of 10/06):  

Below find a list of Woodfork’s major donors, which include several law enforcement officials who left following investigations or convictions for abuse in office: 

  • $6,000 Tony Clayton (Port Allen) 

  • $5,000 In-Telecom Consulting (Slidell) surveillance 

  • $5,000 (Combined) Linda and Gerald Hebert, of Grace Hebert Architects who won the design and build contract for Phase 1, 2, and 3 of the Orleans Justice Center that is subject to intense criticism due to broken locks, bad piping, and other flimsy elements. He was a major donor of former Sheriff Gusman.  Grace Hebert is regularly involved in the prison industrial complex and has contracts related to the new juvenile detention center being constructed in East Baton Rouge Parish; as well as with the proposed new parish jail in East Baton Rouge Parish.  

  • $5,000 (combined) Karen and Bobby Major. Major had a $1 million annual contract from his close friend, former Sheriff Gusman. The contract was reportedly for IT services, yet OPSO during Gusman’s tenure was notoriously trapped in low and outdated technology.   

  • $5,000 Jared Caruso Riecke (Covington) Co-owner of GDH International with Dudley Geigerman III and Bruce Cucchiara until the latter was murdered in 2012; named to LA State Police Commission in 2019 and then resigning in turmoil (details are worthy of a series) 

  • $5,000 Obsidian Select,  

  • $5,000 Cleveland Kimbrough, Jr. 

  • $5,000 Frank Desalvo, an attorney recently suspended for mishandling client funds 

  • $5,000 Aaron Greenstone, McLean, VA, a retired CIA agent, now senior advisor for Bancroft Global Development. They made news last year by receiving a contract (with Tranquility AI) to search social media as part of investigations for AG Liz Murill and several district attorneys, including Jason Williams. 

    • $1,000 Jim Penrose (Laurel, MD) Tranquility AI (surveillance) 

  • $5,000 Lacy Johnson, Indianapolis, IN 

  • $5,000 Barowka and Bonura Engineers (Metairie), previously made news in contributing to Jefferson Parish officials prior to seeking a contract.

  • $5,000 (combined) The Solutient Corp. and board chair Robert Sternhell (evaluator of programs in criminal justice system)  

  • $5,000 Cecile Villere (co-owner of Flightline First) 

  • $4000 Kevin and Laura Johnson (Richmond, TX) with “Sheriff App,” law enforcement app service 

  • $3500 Forecomm Solutions (Prairieville) a jail phone/tablet contractor 

  • $3000 CDW Services (Metairie) Building contractor

  • $3000 Roy Investment Group, LLC (Madisonville)  

  • $3,000 Sean Laughlin (New Orleans) managing director of Stratos (investment firm) 

  • $3,000 Lee Harry 

  • $3,000 Iam Tucker, ILSI Engineering 

  • $2500 Badine Land Limited (partner Wayne Ducote also owns Park First, a parking lot empire in the South, including 2726 Perdido St.

  • $2500 Keystone Partners (Lafayette) Nutritionist Jennifer Jackson consults for seven local jails 

  • $2500 Little Deuces, Inc. (Hammond) Gambling management company owned by Salvador Tintillo Jr. 

  • $2500 Cynthia Molyneaux 

  • $2,500 D & D Construction (Davven Duffy and Donald Barnes) 

  • $2,500 Riverbirch LLC (Avondale) Garbage hauler, and former donor of Gusman, 

  • $2500 Sternhell Group (D.C.) lobbyist

  • $2500 LA Contracting Enterprise (Thibodeaux) construction company 

  • $2,500 Richard Tchoupitoulas LLC, owned by Barry Kern 

  • $2,000 Kathleen Addison (Diamondhead, MS) 

  • $2,000 Meyer Engineers (Metairie) 

  • $2,000 Rollos Security Services (Laplace) 

  • $2,000 Roussel Land Care (Paulina) 

  • $2,000 Jim Kibble (Leesburg, VA) Partner with Professional Risk Management, Inc. 

  • $2,000 VPG Construction / VPG Holdings 

  • $2,000 Tracy Aucoin (Lafayette) 

  • $1,500 Eric Malawer (MacLean, VA) co-founder of Skyfire AI (drone systems)

  • $2,000 Gulf Coast Spirits, LLC (Mandeville) 

  • $1,000 Jim Nickel (Baton Rouge) lobbyist Courson Nickel 

  • $1,000 Louisiana 360 PAC

  • $1,000 River Parish Contractors (Reserve) 

  • $1,000 RAMJ Construction (Kenner) An interesting company that re-formed in 2010 after one owner plead guilty to federal bribery charges (to be awarded government contracts). In 2017, RAMJ lost the catch-basin contract due to illegally disposing of waste, then settling in court with the DEQ. Company president Rodney Madere Jr. was a chief deputy in St. Charles Parish until pleading guilty to payroll fraud in 2024. Apparently, Madere is receiving $200k/year pension. 

  • $1,000 Phillip Rebowe (Gretna), director of client services for Potlethwaite & Netterville (P & N). During Gusman’s campaign, we revealed that P & N was both filing Gusman’s campaign records while auditing the jail. Their audits even exposed troubling data (such as not distributing all the funds raised through the law enforcement district millage), yet a lack of City oversight allowed this to go unaddressed. In 2010, Rebowe & Associates lost contracts with Jefferson Parish due to similar issues of representing two sides of a coin. 

  • $1,000 Magnolia Technology (Gonzales) IT management 

  • $1,000 Willie Jefferson (hopefully not the corrupt Congressman…) 

  • $1,000 Burk Brokerage LLC

  • $1,000 SRC PAC (Ohio) 

  • $1,000 Brian Moreau (Austin, TX) B Mo Ventures (jail jumpsuits, sheets, towels, etc) 

  • $1,000 All South Consulting Engineers 

  • $1,000 Hartman Engineering, Inc. 

  • $1,000 Joseph “Joey” Scontrino III, who owns Landcraft Homes, LLC (real estate development), in addition to his role as Executive V.P. of Port of South Louisiana Commission. 

  • $1,000 Cynthia Gillies, sister of Joey Scontrino 

  • $500 Madison Group, LLC (Washington, DC) lobbyist 

  • $500 Daryl Albert (Slidell) Left NOPD while under sexual harassment investigation (2022)ca; Left the Montgomery, AL police for allegations of sexual misconduct (2024) $500 Belle Chasse Marine Transportation, LLC 

  • $500 Murphy Paul (Gonzales) Former BR Police Chief facing serious misconduct allegations 

  • $500 CM Combs Construction (Covington) 

  • $500 Perez a Professional Corporation (previously consistent donors of Sheriff Gusman and contractor on the jail construction) 

  • $500 Principal Infrastructure (Covington) Engineering and construction 

Expenses - None reported after August 31: 

  • $15,000 Arsement Media Group – Consulting/Advertising 

  • $8,780 BDPC LLC 

  • $1,500 Community Development Assoc. 

  • $6960 Emma Trunkle Consulting  

  • $1250 EmpowerYou NOLA 

  • $2838 Enterprise Strategies 

  • $8560 Executive Transportation (Robert Hickman) 

  • $14,100 Folami Jenkins – Consultant 

  • $12,375 Jones Mandel – Research 

  • $3,000 Master Woodfork “Field Operations” 

  • $1500 Percy Manson – Consultant 

  • $6,000 Tyronne Walker “consultant” 

  • $11,250 Walker Strategic Solutions