Former Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Jack Montoucet, 78, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison on June 30, 2026, for conspiring to defraud the United States by soliciting and accepting illegal kickbacks in exchange for awarding a state contract. Montoucet had previously pleaded guilty to the charges on March 31, 2026.
Court documents reveal Montoucet steered an LDWF contract to DGL1, LLC, for online hunter and boater education courses, in return for one-third of the company's profits. His co-conspirators, Dusty Guidry and Leonard Franques, were to receive the remaining two-thirds. Initially, Montoucet awarded a no-bid contract to DGL1 on January 27, 2021.
After the Louisiana Division of Administration raised concerns, the contract was put out for public bids. Montoucet then used his position to ensure DGL1 maintained a competitive advantage and was ultimately awarded the contract. He signed the agreement on October 8, 2021, fully aware of the impending kickbacks. A month later, Montoucet met with Franques and Guidry to devise a concealment plan, agreeing Franques would hold Montoucet’s share until his departure from LDWF, then disburse it as a purported "signing bonus" for consulting work. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.