Andy Jean-Louis is indicted on 37 counts and faces up to 2-1/3 years to seven years in prison
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Nassau County probation officer has been indicted for coercing one of his probationers to steal merchandise in exchange for positive probationary reports.
Andy Jean-Louis, 46, of Dix Hills, was arrested yesterday by NCDA investigators and is charged with:
- Four counts of Attempted Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree (a D felony)
- Nine counts of Bribe Receiving in the 3rd degree (a D felony)
- Four counts of Attempted Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 5th Degree (an A misdemeanor)
- Eight counts of Attempted Coercion in the 2nd Degree (an A misdemeanor)
- 10 counts of Official Misconduct (an A misdemeanor)
- Coercion in the 2nd Degree (an A misdemeanor)
- Attempted Criminal Impersonation in the 2nd Degree (an A misdemeanor)
The defendant was arraigned before Acting Supreme Court Justice Helene Gugerty and bail was set at $25,000 bond or cash. If convicted of the top charge the defendant faces a maximum of 2-1/3 to seven years in prison. He is due back in court on August 29.
“This defendant is charged with an egregious abuse of his authority as a probation officer that victimized the stores that sustained losses as well as the probationer who was coerced to steal on his behalf,” DA Singas said. “This indictment alleges a shocking scheme perpetrated by Andy Jean-Louis to enrich himself at others’ expense, and our prosecutors are committed to holding him accountable.”
DA Singas said the female victim lodged a complaint on May 11 with the NCDA saying that since March 2017 the defendant had been urging her to commit thefts in exchange for positive probationary reports and favorable treatment by him and the courts. The victim, who was facing one year in jail for violating probation, said the defendant made threats to her that if she didn’t comply with his demands he would lock her up.
A subsequent investigation by the NCDA’s Public Corruption Bureau revealed that the defendant allegedly coerced the victim several times to steal and then return items in exchange for gift cards that he allegedly needed to buy clothes for his children. The woman received money from the defendant for the gift cards. The gift cards were from TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Best Buy and were valued from $54.30 to $249.82. In total, she gave him $804.77 worth of gift cards in exchange for $100 cash that he gave her. Additionally, the 37-count indictment alleges the defendant gave the victim another person’s expired driver’s license so she could continue to make returns without raising suspicion from store security.
According to the indictment, the defendant also provided the victim $120 cash in exchange for a Nintendo game system valued at $325.86. During that transaction, the defendant acknowledged he gave the victim a “favorable report.”
Assistant District Attorney Robert Cavallo, Deputy Chief of DA Singas’ Public Corruption Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Joseb Gim, also of DA Singas’ Public Corruption Bureau are prosecuting the case. Jean-Louis is represented by Miali Makelele, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.