Kraemer booked in contract fraud case

A former St. Mary Parish drainage district board chairman was booked into jail Thursday on the charge he illegally received public funds from a former district employee.
—Carl Kraemer, 51, of the 700 block of Kelli Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 4:28 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with prohibited splitting of profits, fees, or commission. Kraemer turned himself in at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. Kraemer was released on $50,000 bail, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
The arrest stems from an investigation the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s Office set in motion when it wrote to Legislative Auditor Daryl Pupera, saying the office had received information that an independent contractor may have misappropriated St. Mary Parish Consolidated Gravity Drainage District 2 funds.
The result was a May 2015 audit report that accused former Drainage District Maintenance Supervisor Peter Businelle, 68, of Morgan City, of acquiring district business worth about $2.6 million for PAB Welding between 2009 and 2013, when he was a supervisor for the drainage district. Businelle was also accused of paying nearly $43,000 to Kraemer.
The audit report also found evidence that more than $10,000 worth of equipment had been purchased with district funds and could not be found.
The drainage district board has since been reconstituted with new membership.
Also in May, the district attorney turned the case over to the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.
A St. Mary Parish grand jury indicted both Kraemer and Businelle Monday in connection with the investigation. Businelle has not yet been arrested. Businelle was indicted on the charges of prohibited splitting of profits, fees and commissions, public payroll fraud and public contract fraud.
Hebert reported responding to 34 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests relating to east St. Mary Parish:
—Preston Wade, 25, of the 1000 block of Ciro Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:49 p.m. Thursday on the charges of aggravated battery and simple battery. A jailer at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center in Centerville observed two offenders fighting in a dorm.
The two inmates were immediately removed from the dorm. The offenders were then assessed and released by medical personnel.
During the subsequent investigation, the deputy learned that Wade bit another inmate and scratched the victim with a pencil, causing minor injuries, Hebert said. No bail is set.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Gerald Sylvester, 26, of Short Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:54 p.m. Thursday on warrants charging him with possession of cocaine and illegal carrying of a weapon.
Sylvester was previously arrested and incarcerated at the Berwick Police Department in regard to active arrest warrants held by the Morgan City Police Department. Sylvester was transported to the Morgan City Police Department Jail.
—David M. Chapa, 20, of Ingleside, Texas, was arrested at 8:29 p.m. Thursday on the charge of theft under $750.
An officer was dispatched to a business on La. 182 in regard to a theft. The officer arrived and spoke with management who told the officer that Chapa went into the business, took a vape machine off of the counter, placed it into his pocket and left the business.
The officer received video that showed Chapa taking the vape machine and leaving the business. The officer recognized Chapa from a previous encounter just prior to the incident. The officer located Chapa at a hotel on Roderick Street. He was jailed.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrests:
—Toni Aucoin, 45, of Utah Street in Berwick, was arrested at 10:52 a.m. Thursday on the charges of criminal trespassing and theft. Aucoin was released on $2,000 bail.
—Donshea Amos, 27, of Fourth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 10:22 p.m. Thursday on the charges of domestic abuse battery second offense. Amos was transferred to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center with no bail set.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:
—Adontay Owens, 17, of Tall Timber Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 3:12 p.m. Thursday on the charge of theft by shoplifting. Owens was jailed.
—Arthur Dent, 56, of Cleveland Street in Patterson, was arrested at 1:04 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of theft by shoplifting. Dent was jailed.
Franklin Police Chief Sabria McGuire reported the following arrest relating to east St. Mary Parish:
—Dametra Boatmon, 31, of Mallard Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:52 p.m. Thursday on warrants charging her with criminal trespassing and simple assault. On May 30, 2013, officers were dispatched to a call about someone not leaving a residence.
When officers arrived, the homeowner advised Boatmon was on the property trying to hit her. The homeowner advised Boatmon was told to leave the residence multiple times, but Boatmon only left the property upon the owner calling the police department. Boatmon was booked and released on $750 bail.