(WBRZ News 2) A former East Feliciana Parish Coroner was arrested Tuesday and charged with malfeasance in office, criminal conspiracy and injuring public documents.
Laura DeJohn, along with her former deputy coroner Melanie Vines, were booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Tuesday. The arrests follow a 10-month-long investigation by state investigators and the FBI.
DeJohn is accused of failing to maintain Louisiana's record retention law by failing to keep records during her administration. She is also accused of submitting fraudulent billing invoices for unlicensed medical services.
According to arrest records, DeJohn admitted to falsifying records in order to receive payment from the East Baton Rouge Coroner's Office. She also admitted that she did not maintain printed copies of documents.
"Whenever we can hold people accountable for wrongdoing, I think it helps a lot for our political system to help people believe there are people out there taking care of this business," Chief Deputy Attorney General Bill Stiles said.
Vines admitted to conspiring with DeJohn to falsify records. Vines said she was told to conceal her involvement, according to arrest documents.
WBRZ's Chief Investigator Chris Nakamoto has reported on DeJohn multiple times. Click here to read one of the reports from April 2016.