~TA;TE OF LOUISIANA

PARISH OF ST. LANDRY

BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, personally came and appeared: Ofc. Joseph M. Hoke who, after being duly sworn, did depose and say: That he/she is an Officer of the Eunice Police Department and in the course and scope of his/her employment he/she investigated an allegation of LA R.S. 14:67 Felony Theft

allegedly committed in the City of Eunice, on the reveals that on or about the (name) 15th day of

15th day of , 2011

February

, 20

12

; that his/her

February

Joseph Lawrence (B/M O.O.B. 6/20/1968)

did

in fact commit the said offense by fraud and misrepresentations by identifying himself as the National President of the New Black Panthers Party and collecting $600.00 on the party's behalf. Lawrence accepted the $600.00 as a payment for a mentor program from the New Black Panther Party which the victim wished for her son Vernon Joseph to attend. Joseph had been arrested in Acadia Parish on February 29, 2012 and attended the 15th Judicial Court to answer to his charges. This information was confirmed through Acadia Parish Sheriffs Office. After accepting the payment, Lawrence advised the victim he was working with her lawyer (Jack Nickle) on the case. The victim contacted Nickle in reference to Lawrence, and Nickle advised her he did not know who Lawrence was and in no way was working with him. The victim confronted Lawrence and he proceeded to cease contact with her. I contacted Nickle's secretary at his office located in Crowley, LA she confirmed Nickle did represent Joseph in this case. The victim contacted actual members of the New Black Panther Party at which time she was informed that Lawrence was in no way affiliated with the party and should not be accepting any funds on their behalf .: I was also provided with a public notice bulletin as well as a warning email, both of which had been issued by the actual New Black Panther Party. Both of these documents clearly stated that Lawrence was not affiliated with the New Black Panthers. The bulletin also included a photo of Lawrence warning the public against his fraudulent practices. I also received written statements from three other persons stating they too had been advised by Lawrence he was the National President of the New Black Panthers. Each of these three additional victims also provided Lawrence with different amounts of money which he had advised them was "fees" for services from himself and the New Black Panther Party. Each of these victims contacted Lawrence at separate times and for separate reasons. Lawrence did not provide any services to any of the victims in return for the payments made, and upon receiving the payments from each victim Lawrence ceased all contact with them. f1)

G.

~
committed upon the person of or property belonging to, obtained the information from Cynthia Joseph Cynthia Joseph

e: le- t ~ 'Jo I 'd.O 00 " 5"

; that he/she alan Victim

.~
SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE ME this
PrintednameofNotary&ID# or Deputy Clerk of Court

/(~
( --(

~ ->:
of

S-~ay

L ~
~~

Affiant's Signature

,20 /~

Vo~""...-c'C- -(j~~~Jy(

Signature

EUNICE, ST. LANDRY PARISH, LOUISIANA Considering the foregoing affidavit and any other written evidence submitted in this matter, I hereby find probable cause supporting the arrest of the defendant named above pursuant to LA Code of Criminal Procedure Article 230.2. This __ day of _ 20

__~~~AM/PM--------------------------------Time Judge

This section to be used when communicating with magistrate by telephone _ I have read the above probable cause affidavit and other written evidence, if any, to the magistrate at the date nd time given below who found probable cause supported the arrest; or __ I have read the above probable cause affidavit and other written evidence, if any, to the magistrate at the ate and time given below who did not fmd probable cause supported the arrest.
rrmrm mir-aterl tn Inrlce o'clnr-k AMIPM on the: