Board of Ethics Files Charges Against Royce Toney
By: Johnny Gunter
Updated: November 28, 2012
The Louisiana Board of Ethics has voted to bring a charge against former Ouachita Parish Sheriff Royce Toney for violating the state's campaign finance laws.
According to board documents, the board stated that Toney violated campaign finance reporting laws when he had his campaign manager, Kim Leija, to withdraw $30,000. The board states in its filing that Toney reported the $30,000 as a payment to Leija.
However, the board noted that Leija was instructed by Toney to keep $15,000 for her work and to give him the additional $15,000 as a personal loan. Instead, because of taxes that would be owed to the government by Leija, she returned only $10,000.
The board states in its filing that Toney "knowingly and willfully failed to accurately disclose the purpose of the $30,000 expenditure contained in his Feb. 11, 2010 annual campaign finance report and again on an amended report filed July 19, 2010."
The board stated Toney's stated purpose of the $30,000 expenditure being for "campaign manager salary" was inaccurate.
According to state law, criminal penalties could be to six months in jail or up to a $500 fine or both. If the person is convicted of a felony count, he could face a fine of up to twice the amount of the expenditure or compensation or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five years or both.
According to board documents, the board stated that Toney violated campaign finance reporting laws when he had his campaign manager, Kim Leija, to withdraw $30,000. The board states in its filing that Toney reported the $30,000 as a payment to Leija.
However, the board noted that Leija was instructed by Toney to keep $15,000 for her work and to give him the additional $15,000 as a personal loan. Instead, because of taxes that would be owed to the government by Leija, she returned only $10,000.
The board states in its filing that Toney "knowingly and willfully failed to accurately disclose the purpose of the $30,000 expenditure contained in his Feb. 11, 2010 annual campaign finance report and again on an amended report filed July 19, 2010."
The board stated Toney's stated purpose of the $30,000 expenditure being for "campaign manager salary" was inaccurate.
According to state law, criminal penalties could be to six months in jail or up to a $500 fine or both. If the person is convicted of a felony count, he could face a fine of up to twice the amount of the expenditure or compensation or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five years or both.
