Former Lafayette Mayor indicted, posts bail

St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office

By: KATC News

A St. Martin Parish grand jury indicted former Mayor-President Josh Guillory Thursday on four counts of malfeasance in office in connection with a covert drainage operation that cleared spoil banks along the Vermilion River. The Current broke the story, as they have broken most of the stories about this project.

To read their stories, click here. To read the indictment, scroll down.

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff's office issued a press release on the case, providing these details:

In February of 2022, under the leadership of former Mayor-President Joshua Guillory, the removal of the St. Martin Parish Blanchet Site Spoil Bank was contracted and funded by the Lafayette Consolidated Government.

Sheriff Becket Breaux announces that on October 14, 2025, 16th Judicial District Attorney Michael Haik III requested a criminal investigation into the removal of the spoil bank.

Investigators with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office obtained a copy of the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s investigative report and supporting documents. After reviewing these documents, it was determined that possible criminal violations had occurred in St. Martin Parish involving the removal of the spoil bank, which prompted further investigation.

On January 12, 2026, following an extensive investigation, Investigators with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office submitted the investigative file to the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Following a review of the file by the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, a grand jury was convened this week, resulting in the following charges and subsequent arrest of Joshua Guillory, 43, Lafayette:

LA. R.S. 14:134 Malfeasance in Office-4 Counts- (Felony)

Following his arrest, he was booked into the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center on the above charges, and his bond was set at $30,000.00.

Guillory sent us a press release about the case, here it is:

My family and I are overwhelmed by the support that has poured in following the St. Martin DA’s decision. Thank you.

We are as shocked as everyone else. I have been indicted over a four-year-old drainage project from which I made no money and received no personal benefit. The Lafayette Parish District Attorney thoroughly reviewed this matter and declined charges. The reasons were objective and made public. Please see the attached letter.

The St. Martin DA chose to proceed through a grand jury. This prosecution is driven by politics, not the facts.

They are claiming that I instructed my administration to ignore two permits. That is not true.

During drainage meetings, we were informed that the modified project did not require a Corps permit. That understanding was shared by multiple decision-makers.

There has also been an attempt to suggest something improper because work occurred at night. My administration was executing an aggressive drainage plan. Projects ran around the clock because flooding does not wait for daylight.

The project was funded and approved through proper channels. Engineering and legal input were part of the process. Decisions at that level do not occur in a vacuum.

We were elected after historic floods to address drainage. We worked relentlessly to protect life and property. But I never instructed anyone to break the law.

I forgive those involved. I hold no bitterness.

The truth comes out in time.

God bless,
Josh

Here's the letter he's referring to:

Here's the indictment:

Here are some of our stories about this case:

Former Lafayette officials won't face charges in spoil bank ...

New LCG attorney dismisses appeal in spoil banks case

Investigative audit complete; delivered to prosecutors

Corps investigating work on spoil banks on Vermilion River

LCG auditors cite problems in handling of funds

Another legal loss for LCG: Spoil banks lawsuit dismissal ...