News Releases

Counterfeit money order investigation leads to arrest

METAIRE, La. - An investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Secret Service Louisiana Electronic and Financial Crimes Task Force has resulted in the arrest of Brian Kent, 54, of Metairie.

The task force consists of investigators from the Louisiana State Police and U. S. Secret Service.

According to the complaint, during the course of the investigation, special agents and detectives discovered that a Federal Express package containing 325 counterfeit U. S. Postal Service money orders was being delivered to Kent from an address in Nigeria.

A controlled delivery of the fraudulent money orders was conducted by ICE agents, at which time the package was accepted by Kent.

After delivery of the package, investigators executed a consent search of Kent's vehicle and search warrant of his residence locating additional counterfeit money orders and checks as well as a check scanning machine.

Approximately 700 counterfeit documents were seized as a result of the investigation.

Kent was placed into federal custody and charged with fraud, mail fraud, and smuggling.