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BREAKING: Orleans Parish Sheriff, Chief Financial Officer Indicted for Roles in One of the Largest Jailbreaks in the Nation’s History

Following one of the largest jail escapes in the history of the country last spring at the Orleans Justice Center, and at the request of Attorney General Liz Murrill, Orleans Parish convened a special grand jury tasked with investigating the escape. Louisiana Department of Justice prosecutors presented evidence and examined witnesses over the course of the grand jury’s extensive investigation. Today, the special grand jury indicted Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson on 30 felony counts and Chief Financial Officer Bianka Brown on 20 felony counts.

"Nearly a year ago, I made a commitment to the people of New Orleans and the people of our state that those responsible for the Orleans Parish Prison break would be held accountable. Since that day, through the hard work of my office, along with the Louisiana State Police and our many federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, every escapee is behind bars, and others who facilitated and enabled the escape are currently being prosecuted. While Sheriff Hutson did not personally open the doors of the jail for the escapees, her refusal to comply with basic legal requirements and to take even minimal precautions in the discharge of her duties directly contributed to and enabled the escape. As my prosecutors move forward with this case, I continue to have productive conversations with Sheriff-elect Michelle Woodfork on how to improve operations, secure the facility, and build in basic financial oversight that complies with state law. I am confident in her commitment to implement the difficult changes needed to reform the jail," said Attorney General Liz Murrill.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson was indicted on:
COUNTS 1-14: MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE
COUNTS 15-18: CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE
COUNTS 19-21: FILING OR MAINTING FALSE PUBLIC RECORDS
COUNTS 22-24: CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FILING OR MAINTAINING FALSE PUBLIC RECORDS
COUNTS 25-27: OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE
COUNTS 28-30: CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE

  • Sheriff Hutson has been indicted on a total of 30 counts. The judge set a total bond for her at $300,000.
Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office Chief Financial Officer Bianka Brown was indicted on:
COUNTS 31-34: MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE
COUNTS 35-38: CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE
COUNTS 39-41: FILING OR MAINTAINING FALSE PUBLIC RECORDS
COUNTS 42-44: CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT FILING OR MAINTAINING FALSE PUBLIC RECORDS
COUNTS 45-47: OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE
COUNTS 48-50: CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE

  • CFO Bianka Brown has been indicted on a total of 30 counts. the judge set a total bond for her at $200,000.
Both Hutson and Brown have to surrender their passports and cannot leave the State of Louisiana.