New Orleans Prosecutor Demoted In Expanding Scandal Over Anonymous Attacks On Defendant

We previously discussed the bizarre scandal unfolding in the New Orleans U.S. Attorney’s Office. Fred Heebe, a Louisiana landfill owner, has filed an interesting defamation lawsuit against a federal prosecutor who he claims has used anonymous identities to trash him on the Internet. Using a former FBI forensic linguist expert, Heebe has shown remarkable similarities between language used in filings by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sal Perricone and statements written by someone on media websites under the name “Henry L. Mencken1951.” With the finding that the language overlap “strongly indicates” Perricone, Heebe has filed suit and issued subpoenas. The federal case involves alleged bribes (including an almost $500,000 bribe to a state official) to close a rival landfill in Gretna, Louisiana. Heebe however was never charged with a crime. Perricone, 61, has since resigned after 21 years as a prosecutor but an investigation continued at the Justice Department as well as the civil lawsuit. He recently admitted to posting hundreds of comments. Now the scandal has caused U.S. Attorney Jim Letten to demote his second-in-command, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jan Mann.

I had previously heard from Ms. Mann with regard to the prior posting to clarify that she was not implicated in the earlier allegations. Indeed, there was not a reference to her and wrongdoing. She was referred to as the “brains” of the respective team. However, that appears to have changed.

In March, Heebe’s disclosure of the involvement of Sal Perricone led to a fast resignation. Reporters are now saying that it appears that Mann had also posted statements at NOLA.com. There is speculation (but no confirmation) that she may be “eweman” or used another anonymous moniker. If true, it is not clear how long Mann has to remain at the Justice Department in any capacity. This matter was investigated and she likely made statements to her superiors or investigators. It is not clear if any of those statements are being alleged as false. The Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating the matter. Federal prosecutors routinely charge people with making even relatively minor false statements to federal investigators. Little is known about the specific allegation leading to Mann’s demotion.

Previously, Letten portrayed Perricone as a lone wolf — adding to the embarrassment over this demotion.

Mann’s problem is not just the ongoing investigation but the threat of civil litigation — and more importantly civil discovery. With this demotion, there would be ample reason to demand testimony on her alleged role — creating a two-front threat that defense counsel loathe.

Here is the original lawsuit: PDF–Mann-Lawsuit

Source: NOLA

21 thoughts on “New Orleans Prosecutor Demoted In Expanding Scandal Over Anonymous Attacks On Defendant”

  1. “Swarthmore mom
    1, November 13, 2012 at 12:35 pm
    Blouise, Both women are married to doctors. Petreaus probably figured it was safer to have an affair with a married woman. Did not turn out that way as she became overly obsessed with him. oops worshipped.”
    ==========================

    You know Broadwell admitted that her ambition was to become NSC head (or whatever), and she figured that if Rove was blown, then Romney might like it from her too, so that was on the table when she met Rove in June. And if Petreus made it to the WH, then she would have it locked up.
    Now we silly persons are asking ourselves why Eve is to blame for our fall, etc. Best I stop there the rest is vulgar, but true.

  2. I believe everything that this poor man Mr. Fred Heebe and his attorneys state. Government officials (let me say via my experience) that Jeanne M. kincaid who has been present in my emails since 2003, and who has operated and continues to operate under cover of judges and now Justice Breyer at the Supreme Court, that she routinely edits my documents online, and, she responds using various aliases!
    The difference is Judges and Justices are providing the cover for this destruction (including allowing her to conspire with 4 doctors at the Strogers hospital in Chicago Illinois) to murder me. Instead of responding to the truth, this whore could only pretend that i am mentally ill!
    Not only do U.S government officials use the internet, but they are now using satellite technology to track and monitor people. originally and after 911, this technology was supposed to be used for terrorists, and those looking to rain-in harm upon us, but now, it is being abused, and mis-used by the Judges and the justices upon the people; and since these people believe themselves to be Gods, their is no accountability!
    We need a flood of cases brought before the world court of the hagus (international criminal Court): we need massive publicity as they operate in the quiet of things…harassing the citizens and making businesses respond to their corruptions under cover (I have many, many examples, specifics and evidence).
    The bribes, pay-offs, are only a mild symptom: routinely Many government lawyers steal from the bank accounts of citizens. These electronic whores have access, and boy do they use their priviledges…UNDER COVER TO JUDGES AND JUSTICES!
    THE WHOLE DAM COUNTRY IS A MESS. WITH THE CORRUPTIONS COMING FROM THE COURTS, TO THE PEOPLE. SO, THEY ARE WEARING THEIR BLACK ROBES DURING THE DAY, PRETENDING TO BE SOLOMON, AND FULL OF INTEGRITY, AND AT NIGHT, THEY ARE ROAMING THE HIGWAYS & BYWAYS WITH AFFILIATE WHORES (GOV’T LAWYERS) ABUSING THE PEOPLE, AND COMPROMISING THEIR VALUES, ALL UNDER THREAT OF JOB LOST AND OTHER CORRUPTIONS.
    THE USA IS A REGULAR 3RD WORLD DESPOTIC NATION, WORST THAN N KPREA, CHINA, AND THE OTHERS THEY COMPLAIN OF…THEY BIGGEST HYPOCRITS OF ALL! BUT GOD DESTROYED SODAM & G

  3. “Petreaus probably figured it was safer to have an affair with a married woman. ”

    Court Martial offense.

    At any rate, a really dumb decision from a practical standpoint as he had more to lose than she … we won’t even mention ethics or morals ’cause neither apply to his character.

  4. Blouise, Petreaus is not attractive, and now it is all about the lawyers. The wife should send the old creep packing. Patch it up…. hell no. Too much damage was done.

  5. Blouise, Both women are married to doctors. Petreaus probably figured it was safer to have an affair with a married woman. Did not turn out that way as she became overly obsessed with him. oops worshipped.

  6. Blouise,These men didn’t need hookers . They had attractive educated women that worshiped them. Well at least Petraeus did.

  7. “It must be a problen in Afghanistan getting a hooker. Can’t we fly some in for chrissake!” (nick)

    lol … practical solution to handling a bunch of randy old men fooling themselves into believing they’re still sexually desirable … “she smiled at me, she wants me.” … no buddy, you’re paying her to smile at you.

  8. You know General John Allen is now under investigation for sending emails to Jill Kelly. It must be a problen in Afghanistan getting a hooker. Can’t we fly some in for chrissake!

  9. Blouise, As this unravels I think Broadwell’s biggest mistake was sending emails to a woman MUCH prettier than she. Women as pretty as Jill Kelly get men to jump. She got an FBI acquaintance to jump on her complaint and he ended up doing a “half Weiner”, sending Kelly photos of himself shirtless. This is developing into another example of why I tell my wife nonfiction is always better than fiction. Particularly when you got men thinking w/ the little head.

  10. When using aliases one has to be 100% careful. One lone mistake in the alias use and the whole thing can be unraveled. Just ask Paula Broadwell

  11. The writing of this post is so horrible it clouds the meaning of several sentences and distorts the entire story for anyone primarily reading about this here.

  12. Some of those most zealous AUSA’s are the ones who handle landfill, refinery, etc. cases. They have a missionary zeal.

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