Former Avoyelles Correctional Center warden, Nate Cain, will spend 38 months behind bars and his ex-wife, Tonia Bandy-Cain, a former business manager at the prison, was sentenced to eight months to federal prison for spending public dollars on personal purchases. US Attorney for Louisiana’s Western District David Joseph says corruption by public officials will not be tolerated.
“Louisiana has a reputation for public corruption and we’re going to do what we can to break that. If somone runs for office and their goal in running for office is to try and make money illegally, then they better watch out,” said Joseph.
Joseph says the duo spent prison funds, more than $150,000, on personal expenses.
“To use personally, to give gifts, to build a new residence on the Avoyelles Correctional Center grounds, various things, but generally it was using public money for personal things,” said Joseph.
The judge has ordered the two to pay back more than $42,000 in restitution to the state. Joseph is tight-lipped about the current state of the investigation and whether to expect other arrests in connection to the case.
“I don’t really talk about what may be cooking, but definitely for Mr. Nate Cain and Tonia, his ex-wife, this is the end of it,” said Joseph.
