Former Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff and Criminal Clerk’s Employee Charged

NEW ORLEANS, LA—GELISHIA GARRISON, age 40, a resident of New Orleans, was charged today in a Bill of Information with four counts of computer fraud by accessing a protected computer of the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Office, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to the Bill of Information, between 2006 and 2010, GARRISON was employed by the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Clerk’s Office and the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff’s Office. It is alleged that GARRISON accepted payments from four criminal defendants and then used her position to access the Sheriff’s computer system and alter each defendant’s bail status to one of personal recognizance bonds, which are normally reserved for individuals who have been determined by a judge to not pose a danger to the community and to stand a strong likelihood to re-appear in court as ordered.

The Bill of Information indicates that GARRISON received a $1000 “money gram” to effect the release of Defendant A who had been ordered held on a $75,000 bond, and unspecified quantities of cash to effect the releases of Defendants B who had been ordered held on a $20,000 bond, and Defendants C and D who had both been ordered held on a $55,000 bond.

If convicted, GELISHIA GARRISON faces a possible maximum sentence of five (5) years, a $250,000 fine and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

U. S. Attorney Letten expressed his gratitude to the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.

U. S. Attorney Letten reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Attorney’s Office and the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Daniel P. Friel.