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Subject: Danny Newell – District Attorney, Louisiana Judicial District 2 – The
Criminal’s Best Buddy

Submitted by: Shannon Morris

It’s been a long time coming and because some folks who could help, heard about it, we are moving forward. Just a follow up on the felony embezzlement that resulted in the loss of 10’s of thousands in both State funds and Eros Municipal funds.

You may remember the fraudulent applications submitted to the Louisiana Workforce to receive unemployment benefits by the mayor and maintenance worker. Both were charged with felony theft, and the mayor with malfeasance in office, in November 2022.

The disbelief comes when I tell you that the District Attorney, Danny Newell, who
campaigned for the job and won the election back in 2014, has changed the team he plays for.

Let me give you the definition of “district attorney” out of Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. District Attorney – the prosecuting officer of a judicial district. Now the definition of prosecute – to bring legal action against for redress or punishment of a crime or violation of law.

So, the district attorney is the lead prosecutor for a jurisdiction of the state, responsible for the prosecution of persons committing crimes under his jurisdiction and bringing justice to the victims of these heinous criminals.

But that is not what he did when the Louisiana Legislative Auditor provided him with a long list of possible violations of Louisiana Law for the Village of Eros in June 2022. He
exerted no energy to bring justice to the victims of the crimes found by the State Auditor, namely the Municipality of Eros and the State of Louisiana.

No, he turned his focus to the protection of the criminals, mayor of Eros, Kelly Gryder, and maintenance man, Brian Costin. The District Attorney took no action until he charged them both with felony theft on November 16, 2022. Six days shy of six months after the release of the Audit Investigation’s results.

Local government in Eros ended in June 2022 and because the mayor had not been convicted of any crime in a court of law, she could not be removed. That was seventeen months ago. She no longer held monthly meetings with the Board of Aldermen, as required by Louisiana Law, local issues were no longer addressed, maintenance dried up, the mayor fired the help and Eros was left to die.

All of this because the District Attorney did not prosecute anyone for the crimes against the State and Municipality of Eros.

That would be the end of the story except the Jackson Parish Police Jury heard of the abuse heaped upon Eros, and scheduled a meeting with local citizens and the Area Manager of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness from the Governor’s office, and using their connections and influence, have set about the actions needed for the Municipality of Eros to rise from the ashes where negligent elected State employees had discarded what little remains were left.

Nothing else has been done about the stolen money, or corrupt mayor, but it appears some type of action is coming in the very near future. We are just thankful that individuals with the concern for our State have gone above the required call of duty to assist us in salvaging what a corrupt individual had used for nothing but their personal gain and then discarded, irrespective of the cost to the people who put their faith in
them.

So, once again I would like to thank the people of Jackson Parish for keeping our story alive, the Jackson Parish Police Jury for coming to provide assistance to our small community. Thank you to everyone.

Shannon Morris