Westwego, Louisiana - In June 2024, the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud/Auto Theft Unit (LSP-IFAT) began investigating a public corruption case involving Leroy Victoriano, Jr., a 59-year-old former officer of the Westwego Police Department. The investigation, initiated at the request of Westwego Police, uncovered a troubling pattern of misconduct by Victoriano during his service.
In April 2024, while assigned to the Westwego Police Department, Victoriano was tasked with retrieving investigative supplies from the Louisiana State Police Headquarters in Baton Rouge. However, he allegedly took advantage of this opportunity by obtaining a large quantity of "Affidavits for Physical Inspection" without proper authorization. These affidavits are essential documents used for the verification of Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) during the vehicle registration process at the Office of Motor Vehicles.
Upon returning to Westwego, Victoriano failed to return the affidavits to his department. Instead, he kept them for himself and began conducting unauthorized vehicle inspections for individuals in need of this service. Victoriano charged $25 for each inspection, significantly undercutting the Westwego Police Department's official fee of $40 for inspections performed by authorized personnel.
A thorough investigation revealed that since June 2023, Victoriano had acquired over 5,000 affidavits and had issued more than 3,400 of them. His actions resulted in a profit exceeding $100,000. Additionally, investigators found 1,219 unused affidavits, with around 400 still unaccounted for. Evidence gathered during the investigation included materials seized from Victoriano's marked police unit, his residence, and his personal vehicle.
As a consequence of these findings, the 24th Judicial District Court issued arrest warrants for Victoriano on multiple felony charges, including Theft of U.S. Currency over $25,000, Filing False Public Records, Malfeasance in Office, and Money Laundering involving amounts between $20,000 and $100,000. On July 19, 2024, Victoriano voluntarily turned himself in at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center and was booked on these charges.
Following the initiation of the investigation, Victoriano was placed on administrative leave, after which he resigned from the Westwego Police Department. The department has stated that for any inquiries regarding his employment, the public should contact them directly. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to delve into the specifics of this case.
The LSP-IFAT encourages citizens to report any suspected incidents of auto theft or insurance fraud. Reports can be submitted via email at [email protected].
An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.