Texas Man Pleads Guilty in Kickback Scheme
Posted/updated on: March 13, 2011 at 5:34 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – A Texas man has pleaded guilty to conspiring with a New Orleans police captain to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a kickback scheme. Thirty-seven-year-old Joseph Branch faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine after Thursday’s guilty plea. His sentencing is set for June 16. Federal prosecutors say Branch, owner of Brownsboro, Texas-based Gladius Inc., negotiated a contract at inflated rates to provide armed guards to Entergy Services Inc. after a hurricane. The plot called for parts of the federally reimbursed contract to be kicked back to Branch and Capt. Michael Roussel. Roussel’s trial is scheduled to begin March 28.
