Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS, LA – The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil injunction suit today in federal court seeking to bar multiple individuals associated with Paige’s Income Tax Services (Paige Tax) from preparing federal tax returns and operating or owning any tax preparation business. The suit names Unnisha Paige, Rosetta Jones, Capriata Oatis, Keyante St. Cyr, Leah Smith, Laporscha Thompson, Deshira Horton, and India Toppins as defendants. The Justice Department also seeks a court order requiring the defendants to disgorge all fees obtained through allegedly false or fraudulent return preparation. According to the complaint, Unnisha Paige is a full or partial owner of each Paige Tax franchise and sells tax preparation software and training to individuals who want to start tax busin...

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Starlab Space LLC has selected Louisiana-based Vivace Corporation to manufacture the primary aluminum structure for its upcoming commercial space station. The structure, one of the largest ever developed for launch, will be fabricated at Vivace’s New Orleans facility with support from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility. Artist's rendering of the Starlab space station in orbit above Earth (Photo Courtesy of Starlab Space LLC) The announcement marks a major milestone as Starlab advances toward its Critical Design Review in December. The station is designed to succeed the International Space Station by maintaining continuous astronaut presence in low-Earth orbit and supporting scientific research, technology development, and commercial activity. “Selecting Vivace to l...

BATON ROUGE, LA, Sept. 18, 2025 – A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Louisiana has indicted a Guatemalan national residing unlawfully in the United States for fraud involving a government program designed to protect unaccompanied alien children (UAC). According to court documents, Felix Coc Choc, 29, of Rogers, Arkansas, is charged with one count of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement and one count of aggravated identity theft. The indictment was unsealed today. Authorities allege that after a 16-year-old Guatemalan UAC entered the United States illegally in January 2023, Coc Choc submitted an application to sponsor the child through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). In the application, Coc Choc all...

NEW ORLEANS, LA – New Orleans Police are investigating a homicide after a man was found shot in the 2400 block of Mexico Street around 9:45 a.m. on September 16, 2025. Responding officers from the NOPD’s Third District located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported by New Orleans EMS to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Investigators determined the actual shooting occurred in the 6300 block of Arts Street. The victim fled from that location before collapsing on Mexico Street. The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office will determine the official cause of death and release the victim’s identity after notifying next of kin. Anyone with information is urged to contact NOPD Homicide detectives at 504-658-5300 or Crimestoppers anonymously at 5...

BOSSIER CITY, LA – Detectives with the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Saturday afternoon at the Villaggio Apartments located at 5200 East Texas Street in Bossier City. According to LSP, the Bossier City Police Department requested assistance following the incident, which occurred around 2 p.m. Preliminary information indicates that Bossier City officers responded to a call for service at the apartment complex and encountered an armed subject. During the encounter, two officers were shot and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The subject was critically injured by what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The investigation remains active and ongoing. Detectives are continuing to proces...

NEW ORLEANS, LA – A federal judge sentenced chiropractor Dr. Benjamin Tekippe, 40, of New Orleans, to seven years in prison for orchestrating a multimillion-dollar health care fraud scheme and submitting false unemployment claims during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to court records and trial evidence, Tekippe owned and operated Metairie Chiropractic & Rehab and solicited Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana (BCBSLA) members with misleading offers of “free” massages. In reality, Tekippe billed BCBSLA for these massages—which were not covered services—as well as other chiropractic procedures that were either not performed or misrepresented. Prosecutors detailed that Tekippe submitted thousands of false claims, including billing for services while he was vacationing in Aruba ...

SHREVEPORT, LA – A man with a history of violent offenses is facing multiple charges following a domestic disturbance that escalated into threats against law enforcement and medical personnel. On September 9, 2025, just after 5:30 p.m., Shreveport Police officers responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 4400 block of Pines Road. According to investigators, the victim told officers that her boyfriend, Danthony Thompson, had threatened to kill her while the two were driving. Fearing for her life, she exited the vehicle and ran into a nearby gas station, where Thompson reportedly chased her inside. Thompson allegedly continued to make threats to kill both the victim and himself as she attempted to hide inside the store. When officers arrived, Thompson acted erratica...

DERIDDER, LA – The DeRidder Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating 16-year-old Tyler Willis, who has been reported missing. Police said Willis left his residence on August 13, 2025, shortly after 1:30 p.m. He was reported as a missing/runaway juvenile to DeRidder Police on September 9. Willis is described as 6’2” tall, weighing 165 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair with a blonde patch in the front left. He wears his hair in short dreads or twists. His clothing description is unknown. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the DeRidder Police Department at 337-462-8911.

SHREVEPORT, LA – The Shreveport Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating Hollie Jean Scroggins, 44, who is wanted on multiple charges. Investigators said Scroggins allegedly used a stolen identity to rent a vehicle, leading to her identification as a suspect. She is wanted on charges of identity theft, theft of a motor vehicle, and access device fraud. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to contact the Shreveport Police Department at 318-673-7300 or Caddo Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373. Tips to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous.

NEW ORLEANS, LA – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has affirmed the conviction of Miguel Rafael Rayos, Jr., for possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute following the drug-related death of his roommate. Rayos challenged the denial of his motion to suppress evidence, arguing that the search warrant was not supported by probable cause. The court, in an unpublished opinion issued Sept. 5, 2025 (No. 24-10993), applied its standard two-step inquiry: first determining whether the good-faith exception to the exclusionary rule applied, and then reviewing probable cause if necessary. The panel found that the good-faith exception applied, noting that the affidavit supporting the warrant contained sufficient facts and circumstances to allow a magistrate to ...