Former Avoyelles Correctional Center warden and ex-wife sentenced to prison for stealing taxpayer money for personal benefit

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that Nathan Burl Cain II, the former warden of the Avoyelles Correctional Center in Cottonport, Louisiana, and his ex-wife, Tonia Bandy Cain were sentenced to 38 months and 8 months in prison, respectively, by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell.  They were also sentenced to two years of supervised release following imprisonment and were ordered to pay $42,501.95 in restitution.

On March 13, 2019, Nathan Burl Cain, II, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in the middle of a trial that began on March 11, 2019. Tonia Bandy Cain pleaded guilty on July 9, 2018 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Nathan Cain conspired with his ex-wife, who served as the manager of the business office of the facility, to use Louisiana Department of Corrections bank cards to purchase personal items, while misrepresenting that such items were purchased for official business.  The bank cards were used to purchase furniture, pet supplies, toilet paper, gun parts, Christmas decorations, yard tools, tires, a pressure cooker that was given as a gift to a third party, and other items.

Additionally, Nathan Cain commissioned the construction of a house on prison grounds for himself and did not bid the construction as required by law.  Instead, purchases for the construction were made on bank cards structured in a manner to avoid detection by the Louisiana Department of Corrections.

“Our public officials have a duty to uphold the law and act in the interests of those they serve,” Joseph stated.  “This prosecution and sentence of imprisonment should send a clear message:  corruption by our public servants will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  I hope the resolution of this case serves to repair our citizen’s trust in the many public servants who faithfully and honestly fulfill their duties every day.  I want to thank Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street’s office and the FBI for investigating this case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luke Walker and David Ayo for their work prosecuting this matter.” 

“The people of Louisiana are absolutely fed up with corruption by public officials,” said Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street.  “The sentences handed down today should make it clear to anyone who abuses the public trust and corrupts their office for personal gain: no matter who you are or what connections you think you have, you had better be prepared to go to jail.  The Louisiana OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to make sure of it. Thanks again to United States Attorney David Joseph and his staff for their outstanding professional work in prosecuting this matter.”

The FBI and the Louisiana Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Luke Walker and David J. Ayo prosecuted the case.