[StBernard] Two St. Bernard lawyers involved in bail fixing scheme sentenced in federal court

[Westley Annis]

Two St. Bernard lawyers involved in bail fixing scheme sentenced in federal
court
By Bob Warren, The Times-Picayune 
April 22, 2010, 2:42PM
Two lawyers involved in a bail rigging scheme with former St. Bernard Parish
Judge Wayne Cresap were sentenced Thursday in federal court.

Federal Judge Mary Ann Lemon sentenced Salvatore "Sal" Cusimano to 33 months
in federal prison and Victor J. "V.J.'' Dauterive to 48 months.

Cresap, of the 34th Judicial District, pleaded guilty last year to
conspiracy to commit wire fraud alongside Dauterive and Cusimano, who were
also charged in the scheme.

The crimes are punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of up to
$250,000. 

Cresap and Dauterive both pleaded to taking between $70,000 and $120,000
over a period of five years starting in 2004. Cusimano pleaded to taking
between $10,000 and $30,000 during the same period.

Sentencing for Cresap, which had been scheduled for Thursday, has been
pushed back again by more than two months, according to a filing late
Tuesday in U.S. District Court in New Orleans. It is now scheduled for July
1 at 2 p.m. before Lemmon.

Cresap, Dautrive and Cusimano pleaded guilty last October to taking bribes
in exchange for allowing inmates to be released from jail without posting
bond.