East Baton Rouge Parish Schools Superintendent LaMont Cole turned himself in to the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Thursday morning, one day after a grand jury indicted him on felony corruption charges. His bond was set at $15,000; he posted bond and was released by 2:30 p.m.
"Respectfully, no comment," Cole told a reporter at the jail when asked about the indictment.
Cole, 52, is charged with two counts each of conspiracy to commit public bribery and money laundering between $20,000 and $100,000, along with one count of malfeasance in office. Contractors Terral and Erica Jackson were indicted alongside him and also turned themselves in Wednesday, taken into custody by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office.
What the Affidavit Alleges
According to the affidavit underlying the indictment, obtained by WAFB, Cole "abused his elected position of power" and participated in a bribery scheme with the Jacksons, whose firm, Broad Innovation Marketing, "unlawfully received multiple contracts, totaling nearly $600,000." The affidavit alleges Cole received more than $40,000 in cash and gifts from Terral Jackson in exchange for steering those contracts his way.
Investigators cite text messages between Cole and Jackson as central evidence. In one message dated Jan. 4, 2023, Cole allegedly wrote regarding a proposed contract: "That's potentially a $10k-20k a month contract over the next 10 years … I could use an additional $60k-120k a year."
In another exchange cited in the affidavit, Cole wrote about a third party who had learned of the arrangement: "He knows I'm getting a kickback from both of you and he plans to expose us."
The affidavit also alleges that Cole used his influence as Mayor Pro Tempore to have a contracted city-parish employee — who oversaw a blight program and had questioned Terral Jackson's work — let go, with the employee's contract not renewed heading into 2023. Investigators cite a text from Cole to Jackson they say reflects that decision: "F- with the bull, you get the horns!!!" The affidavit notes Cole and Jackson belong to the same fraternity.
Timeline
The indictment covers alleged conduct between Aug. 10, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2024. Cole resigned from the Metro Council on Aug. 6, 2024, and started as EBR Schools superintendent two days later, meaning prosecutors allege some of the conduct continued for roughly six months into his tenure leading the school system. The charges themselves do not involve the East Baton Rouge Parish School System.
Cole's Response
Cole issued a statement Wednesday night denying wrongdoing, calling the indictment a "miscarriage of justice based on association, not attestation, and proximity to potential crimes without proof." He said he would comply with all legal requests and expressed confidence the legal system would "swiftly recognize this for what it is" and "fully vindicate" him. Cole has not entered a plea and, like all defendants, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Sources
Additional reporting from The Advocate and WAFB.