1 month ago
The sheriff of New Orleans was deed connected Wednesday pinch a sweeping 30-count indictment alleging malfeasance and payroll fraud amid an extracurricular investigation into her agency that was prompted by a monolithic jailbreak astir a twelvemonth earlier.
The indictment against sheriff Susan Hutson, whose duties see operating nan New Orleans jail, was brought by Louisiana authorities lawyer wide Liz Murrill. It came days earlier Hutson was group to time off office, bringing a abrupt and crisp conclusion to a tenure that began successful 2022 pinch promises of sweeping reform.
Hutson’s main financial officer, Bianka Brown, was besides indicted connected 20 felony counts.
Murrill’s agency alleges Hutson’s refusal to travel basal ineligible requirements and nonaccomplishment to return minimal precautions enabled a 10 May 2025 wide flight that was 1 of nan largest and astir brazen jailbreaks successful caller US history.
The charges against Hutson see 14 counts of malfeasance successful office, on pinch aggregate counts of conspiracy, filing mendacious nationalist records, and obstruction of justice. Brown was besides indicted connected aggregate counts of malfeasance successful agency and obstruction of justice, among different charges.
A judge group Hutson’s enslaved astatine $300,000 and Brown’s enslaved astatine $200,000. Both women person been ordered to surrender their passports and are prohibited from leaving nan authorities of Louisiana.
Four years anterior to her indictment, Hutson’s triumph complete longtime incumbent Marlin Gusman was heralded arsenic a watershed infinitesimal – nan first clip a Black female had ever held nan agency of sheriff successful New Orleans.
But Hutson’s ensuing sole word was marred by controversy. There were staffing scandals and allegations that she overspent connected edifice rooms for immoderate of her apical brass during nan city’s Mardi Gras celebrations.
State auditors recently flagged astir $260,000 successful suspicious overpayments to deputies for information details.
Tension past reached a breaking constituent connected 10 May 2025, when a staggering information breach allowed 10 group to flight nan jail. It took until 8 October 2025 for all of those who escaped to beryllium recaptured.
And 3 days later, Hutson was voted retired of office.
Voters elected erstwhile interim New Orleans constabulary section superintendent Michelle Woodfork to switch Hutson opening connected 4 May.
Murrill noted she has been successful “productive conversations” pinch nan sheriff-elect astir improving day-to-day jailhouse operations, tightening information astatine nan facility, and putting basal financial oversight successful spot to meet authorities requirements.
Both Hutson and Brown were expected to look astatine New Orleans’ authorities criminal courthouse connected Thursday greeting for a position hearing.
