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UPDATE: America’s Cajun Navy Founder, John Billiot Arrested For Felony Theft

Oct 22, 2019 04:18PM ● By Flint Zerangue, Sr.
UPDATE: A spokesman for the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Department (LPSO) released the following statement Tuesday evening after Parish News broke the story of John A. Billiot, Jr's arrest for Felony Theft.

LPSO Statement 5:30 pm 10/22/2019: 
On September 30, 2019, the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division began a theft investigation involving John A. Billiot Jr.


The victim advised that John Billiot Jr started a GoFundMe account to aid in the care of specific foster children and their foster parents. The GoFundMe account was set up to generate money to assist the children and the foster parents with their care as well as for Christmas Presents for the children.

Only a portion of the funds derived from this GoFundMe account were used for the benefit of the foster children as intended. The majority of the funds were retained by Mr Billiot. John A. Billiot Jr was subsequently arrested for Louisiana R.S. 14:67 Theft (Felony) by fraud and misappropriation of funds.

Original Parish News article published 4:18 pm 10/22/2019:
Lafayette La-- John Adam Billiot, Jr., the self-professed founder and President of America's Cajun Navy was taken into custody earlier today by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's office on an Active Warrant.  Mr. Billiot was arrested on Felony Theft charges [Code 14:67] and was held at the Lafayette Parish Correctional Facility on a $7,500 bond. He has since bonded out.

According to sources, John A. Billiot Jr, a resident of Scott, Louisiana was arrested for allegedly using donated funds for personal items.  These funds had been donated under the pretense that they were to be used for specific victims in need.

Our research shows approximately fifteen entities across the U.S. using some version of the "Cajun Navy" name for independent search and rescue efforts.  And while the vast majority of those organizations, and their volunteers, are honest and well-intended, rumors have been surfacing over that past year that a small number of these volunteers may have less than noble motives.

Of the fifteen known Cajun Navy organizations, current IRS records show that only four of these entities are officially listed as 501 3-C non-profit organizations.*

They are:  

- Cajun Navy Relief: New Orleans, LA, United States
- Cajun Navy 2016: Walker, LA, United States
- Cajun Navy Supply Inc: Idaho Springs, CO, United States
- United Cajun Navy: Baton Rouge, LA, United States

While America's Cajun Navy, the organization founded and operated by John A. Billiot Jr, states it is an accredited IRS non-profit 501 3-C on its website and social media page, our research shows that at this time, the organization is not.  The organization is listed with the Louisiana Secretary of State as a Limited Liability Company.

This is an ongoing investigation. This story will be updated as more details become available.

    * Additional sources include FB - Cajun Navy Wiki Leaks and Tom Bever.
    * All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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