Former Avoyelles Correctional Center Warden Nate Cain has pleaded guilty to charges in his federal trial on corruption charges. US Attorney David Joseph for the Western District of Louisiana said Cain’s guilty plea admits to stealing more than $150,000 in taxpayer money for personal items.
“He used the state Department of Correction bank card to buy all sorts of things to his own benefit, but not for the prison at all,” said Joseph.
Joseph said the guilty plea means Cain conspired with his ex-wife to use department of corrections banks cards to purchase furniture, pet supplies, toilet paper, gun parts, Christmas decorations and other items for personal use. He said the conviction should serve as a warning to public officials…
“We’re not going to tolerate public corruption in this state any longer. The good ol’ boy system is over. We are not going to allow public servants take advantage of the tax payers,” said Joseph.
Defense attorney John McLindon said Cain has only pleaded guilty to purchasing gun parts for personal use with state dollars, the other charges have been dismissed…
“Nate took a part that was purchased with government funds and put it on his private gun. And he did replace it, by the way, but it was a little bit later that he replaced it,” said McLindon.
Cain will be sentenced June 17th. He faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine per count and restitution. McLindon said Cain is ready to face whatever consequences come his way.
“You know the restitution is, like, less than $1000. So we’re going to pay that back. He accepted responsibility. He admitted, ‘Yeah, you know, I did that wrong. I should have done that differently,'” said McLindon.
