NEW ORLEANS — Here are the events and exclusive WWL Louisiana stories that led to the ongoing federal criminal investigation:
2018-2022: Randy Farrell allegedly starts collecting bribes from unlicensed electricians to pay for permits and approve hundreds of their jobs on homes and businesses around New Orleans.
Dec. 23, 2018: Farrell allegedly talks with business partner Fouad Zeton about asking Mayor LaToya Cantrell to fire Jennifer Cecil, deputy director of Safety and Permits who was investigating Farrell. Farrell allegedly buys $875 worth of Saints tickets for Cantrell and Zeton. Zeton texts Farrell photo of him with mayor at the Saints game.
Dec. 27, 2018: Farrell texts Zeton: “Tell (Cantrell) just a reminder to can that b----”
Jan. 16, 2019: Farrell allegedly buys Cantrell 17 tickets to NFC Championship Game between Saints and Rams, worth almost $6,000.
Farrell texts Zeton: “Just get (Cantrell) to get (Cecil) out, and we will be Kings with Safety and Permits… that woman is still up there.”
August 14, 2019: Farrell allegedly pays $831 bill at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse for Cantrell, Zeton and staff and asks her to fire Cecil.
Aug. 19, 2019: Cantrell meets with Safety and Permits. Farrell associate Larry Chan caught on secret audio, reported exclusively by WWL, complaining “Jennifer Cecil, is the backbone of charging me with things.” Cantrell responds: “Do you believe that we have what we need internally to fill leadership gaps should become open? So, like (Cecil’s job), that sort of thing?”
*The timeline continues below the video.
Aug. 22, 2019: Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Chad Dyer informs Cecil she’s being fired, but lets her take vacation. Farrell sends Zeton image saying, “THE B---- IS GONE!!!!!!” Zeton texts Cantrell: “thank you so much for handling safety and permit problem”
Aug. 30, 2019: Cantrell allegedly finds out Cecil isn’t fired yet and confronts Dyer, who refuses to fire Cecil and resigns.
Sept. 9, 2019: Safety and Permits Director Zach Smith sends an email to CAO Gilbert Montano asking for a “further, more exhaustive investigation” into what Cecil found. Montano replies “I and the Administration take these issues very seriously. I will … begin the next stage of the investigation…”
Sept. 13, 2019: WWL breaks the story of a sweeping federal criminal probe of Safety and Permits, reports emergency staff meeting for Sept. 16, 2019.
Sept. 16, 2019: Secret audio of Larry Chan at a meeting, saying WWL reported about the federal probe and the meeting. “We have a mole,” someone says.
*The timeline continues below the video.
Nov. 11, 2019: Montano allegedly asked Zeton for tickets to the College National Championship Game. Zeton texts: “Consider it done.”
Nov. 16, 2019: Cecil runs out of vacation days and resigns.
Dec. 8, 2019: Farrell allegedly has Zeton give Montano three tickets to a Saints game worth $1,160.
Dec. 24, 2019: Zeton texts Farrell photo of him at Lakeside Mall with Cantrell and her family. Farrell texts Zeton to tell Cantrell “Merry Christmas” and allegedly buys her an iPhone for almost $1,600. Phone is later returned.
January 2020: Montano allegedly asks Zeton again for tickets to the National Championship Game. Farrell allegedly purchases $3,600 in tickets for Zeton to give to Montano, who tells WWL Louisiana he “wound up in a suite at that game,” but denies he would do favors for anyone in exchange for tickets.
Nov. 17-18, 2022 – WWL breaks story of subpoenas to Mayor Cantrell’s image consultant.
Sept. 21, 2023: Farrell emails Safety and Permits Director Tammie Jackson and admits he asked Cantrell to get rid of Cecil.
December 2023: In exclusive interview, WWL asks Cantrell if she tried to make things easier for Randy Farrell. Cantrell denied talking to Farrell or anyone else about who she put in leadership positions.
*The timeline continues below the video.
January 2024: WWL reports FBI is questioning Farrell and Zeton about their ties to Cantrell.
Sept. 27, 2024: Randy Farrell indicted on 25 counts of conspiracy, wire fraud and honest services fraud. Cantrell, identified as “Public Official 1,” named as unindicted co-conspirator. Montano, identified as “Public Official 2,” implicated in 2 counts of fraud.
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