Jack Montoucet

{{Short description|American politician (born 1947)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Jack Montoucet |image =  |image_size = 150px

| |caption = |office = Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries |governor = John Bel Edwards |term_start = January 16, 2017 |term_end = April 14, 2023 |predecessor = Charlie Melancon |successor = Robert Shadoin |state_house1 = Louisiana |district1 = 42nd |term_start2 = 2008 |term_end2 = January 15, 2017 |preceded2 = Gil Pinac |succeeded2 = John Stefanski |birth_date = {{birth year and age|1947|10}} |birth_place = |death_date = |death_place = |party = Democratic |occupation = Businessman }}

'''Jack Montoucet''' (born October 1947)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Home/Home?uid=2950341|title=Jack Montoucet, October 1947|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=May 4, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> is an American politician who served as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries under Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wafb.com/story/34153703/gov-edwards-appoints-state-rep-jack-montoucet-to-head-wildlife-and-fisheries|title=Governor Edwards appoints state Rep. Jack Montoucet to head wildlife and fisheries|publisher=WAFB-TV|date=December 30, 2016|accessdate=January 3, 2017}}</ref>

== Career == From 2008 to 2017, Montoucet was a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 42 in Lafayette and Acadia parishes. A resident of Scott in Lafayette Parish, he was the vice chair of the Acadiana delegation and a member of the Democratic Caucus and the Louisiana Rural Caucus.<ref>[http://votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=93826 Project Vote Smart - Rep. Montoucet]</ref> Montoucet retired as the chief of the Lafayette Fire Department and owns the alligator farm, Jacques Crocs and Farm Pride Processors.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

==Elections== ===2007===

In 2007, Montoucet was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. He defeated fellow Democrat Isabella delaHoussaye.<ref>[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/state_election_results.phtml?s=LA&y=2007#fHOUSE042 Official Louisiana House 2007 General Election Results]</ref>

===2011===

On October 22, 2011, Montoucet won re-election to District 61 of the Louisiana House of Representatives, defeating Republican Anthony Emmons in the primary. Because Louisiana uses a blanket primary system, a candidate can be declared the overall winner of the seat by garnering 50 percent +1 of the vote in the primary.

== Louisiana Secretary of Wildlife and Fisheries==

He was Secretary of Wildlife and Fisheries under Governor Jeff Landry from until 2017 until 2023.

He resigned on April 14, 2023 during a bribery scandal<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/bribery-scandal-louisiana-wildlife-department-3955d6050898d374791b690b2d0252bd|title=Louisiana wildlife chief quits amid scandal|website=AP|publisher=Associated Press|date=14 April 2023|access-date=26 October 2024}}</ref><ref name=hilburn2023>{{cite news|url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2023/04/14/louisiana-wildlife-secretary-jack-montoucet-quits-amid-bribery-and-kickback-scandal/70113259007/|website=Lafayette Daily Advertiser|date=14 April 2023|access-date=26 October 2024|last=Hilburn|first=Greg|title=Louisiana Wildlife Secretary Jack Montoucet resigns amid bribery, kickback scandal}}</ref><ref name=illuminator2023>{{cite web|url=https://lailluminator.com/briefs/wildlife-fisheries-secretary-resigns-following-reports-linking-him-to-federal-probe/|website=Louisiana Illuminator|date=14 April 2023|access-date=26 October 2024|author=((Louisiana Illuminator))|title=In a Flash: Wildlife & Fisheries secretary quits following reports linking him to federal probe}}</ref> involving a Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission member.<ref name=hilburn2023/><ref name=illuminator2023/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/jack-montoucet-wildlife-head-is-implicated-in-bribe-probe/article_820bc942-d9fc-11ed-8cf2-1b6322146a39.html|last1=Bridges|first1=Tyler|last2=Russell|first2=Gordon|last3=Karlin|first3=Sam|title=Jack Montoucet, state wildlife head, is implicated in bribery scandal, documents show|website=Times-Picayune / Nola.com|others=Additional contributions by Faimon Roberts|date=13 April 2023|access-date=26 October 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Deputy Secretary Robert Shadoin took over when Montoucet resigned.<ref>{{citeweb|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/american-press-new-leader/181730838/|title=La. wildlife chief quits amid scandal|publisher=American Press|date=April 15, 2023|access-date=September 24, 2025}}</ref>

On March 21, 2025, Montoucet was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges including conspiracy to commit bribery and wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment alleges that during his tenure as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), Montoucet conspired with LDWF Commissioner Dusty Guidry <ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=La. Wildlife and Fisheries boss resigns amid reports on alleged kickback scheme |url=https://www.wbrz.com/news/la-wildlife-and-fisheries-boss-implicated-in-bribery-investigation-report-says/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=WBRZ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-14 |title=Montoucet resigns |url=https://www.katc.com/news/covering-louisiana/montoucet-resigns |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=KATC News |language=en}}</ref> and businessman Leonard Franques to steer a state contract to Franques' company, DGL1, LLC, in exchange for kickbacks. The scheme involved awarding contracts for online education services, with portions of the revenue allegedly set aside as illicit payments to Montoucet, including a $122,507.96 kickback disguised as a "signing bonus" to be paid after his retirement. Montoucet faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million if convicted.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-21 |title=Western District of Louisiana {{!}} Former Secretary of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Indicted by Federal Grand Jury {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla/pr/former-secretary-louisiana-department-wildlife-and-fisheries-indicted-federal-grand |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref>

On June 12, 2025, he pleaded not guilty to all charges.<ref>{{citeweb|url=https://www.wbrz.com/news/former-head-of-ldwf-pleads-not-guilty-to-money-laundering-conspiracy-charges/|title=Former head of LDWF pleads not guilty to money laundering, conspiracy charges|date=June 12, 2025|access-date=September 25, 2025}}</ref> His trial is scheduled for May 2026.<ref>{{citeweb|url=https://www.wbrz.com/news/former-lafayette-ada-guilty-on-federal-bribery-charges-br-connection-s-trial-up-next/|title=Former Lafayette ADA guilty on federal bribery charges, BR connection's trial up next|date=September 19, 2025|access-date=September 25, 2025}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==Sources== *''This article incorporates text from Ballotpedia, released under the GFDL.''

{{s-start}} {{succession box | before = Gil Pinac | title = Louisiana State Representative for District 42 (Acadia and Lafayette parishes) | years = 2008–2017 | after = John Stefanski}} {{s-off}} {{s-end}} {{s-start}} {{succession box | before = Patrick Banks (interim) | title = Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries| years = 2017-2023 | after = Robert Shadoin}} {{s-off}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Montoucet, Jack}} Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Democratic Party members of the Louisiana House of Representatives Category:American fire chiefs Category:People from Lafayette, Louisiana Category:People from Scott, Louisiana Category:21st-century members of the Louisiana State Legislature Category:State cabinet secretaries of Louisiana