BIOGRAPHY:
On December 28, 2022, I turned 40 years old but knew in the back of my mind that I would be
pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud in the Middle District of Louisiana. Prior to that event,
I’d never been in trouble with the law. My wife is an attorney and I watched plenty of crime TV
to imagine a felon and prison-life. I definitely did not imagine myself being one. It’s surreal to
think I will be known as a convicted felon for the rest of my life. Because of this status, I will
never be able to coach my kids’ sports teams. Just knowing that shatters my heart every single
day.
BACKGROUND:
I was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and grew up in Winnsboro, Louisiana. Both my parents had a
huge influence on my life and challenged me to succeed regardless of the obstacles they or I
encountered.
My mother was subservient to my father and did not have her own voice in the traditional Indian
family. My father had two sides to him: the loving father/grandfather and the alcoholic. My
father was my baseball coach – he made sure I drank protein shakes and practiced at least two
hours every day. He is an amazing grandfather to my two children. But the other side of him was
an alcoholic. As I struggled with this dichotomy, I realized that I wanted to take a different path
in my life. I wanted to be a loving, caring, supportive husband and father. No matter the
circumstances, my parents gave me good guidance to the best of their abilities, which
encouraged me to do well in school and seek out challenges to foster my growth so my future
would be different.
In tenth grade, while attending Winnsboro High School, I applied and was selected for
attendance at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts. This competitive boarding
school is publicly funded, selecting only 200 students from across the state. I felt fortunate to
have gained a seat in the 2000 graduating class and took my studies seriously. This allowed me
to begin studying information technology at Louisiana State University in the year of my
graduation, later transferring to the University of New Orleans.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 2005, I enrolled in the MBA program at Loyola
University New Orleans. On the morning of my orientation, however, the city was evacuated in
response to Hurricane Katrina. One of my professors told me that other schools were taking in
students who were displaced by the hurricane. I took this opportunity and called the MBA office
at Loyola Chicago to see if they were willing to accept me. They said yes, and I packed two
suitcases and set off to Chicago, a place where I had no connections or social support. But I was
determined to convert this tragedy into a positive opportunity for myself and my future.
Despite this challenging start, I found myself at a top-25 school. I craved the competition that
helped me excel in high school and was determined to remain in Chicago. I had to convince the
school’s administrators to let me stay on and complete my program in this new location. I
secured letters of recommendation from my professors and maintained a 4.0 GPA, allowing me
to graduate with my MBA the following year. This degree served as a springboard to a fruitful
career in mergers and acquisitions at the Fortune 500 company The Shaw Group.
I worked in this industry until 2011, when my wife, Namisha, and I welcomed my son, Jaylen,
into the world. From the moment I held him in my arms, my world and my priorities began to
shift. My work was rewarding but required me to be on the road and away from my family.
Being a present and involved parent was and is important to me, so I made the decision to leave
the Shaw Group. I wanted to be sure I was the best father to my son; I wanted to be financially,
physically, mentally and emotionally supportive for him from the day he was born. Shortly
thereafter, I was approached with an opportunity to acquire a personal care company.
From 2011, onward, I was involved in healthcare startups, successfully creating three businesses.
From providing healthcare to the elderly and disabled to urgent care and later COVID testing, I
found meaning in creating jobs and serving others. Entrepreneurship allowed me to spend
precious time with my family, which now included a daughter, Ria. In time, I decided to marry
my first passion, information technology, with this business model and started Relief Telemed.
I offer the information above to show that although I pleaded guilty to a federal crime, and a
judge sentenced me to serve a 28-month sentence, I have a long history of living as a hard-
working, contributing citizen. I regret that I participated in a crime that led me into the criminal
justice system, and I intend to use my time to make amends for the bad decisions that led me into
this predicament.
After pleading guilty in January 2023, I was fortunate that there were some people in the
community who were willing to give me a chance despite my prior actions. I wouldn’t be the
CEO of a company or trying to start up a new business. I was offered to help with administrative
tasks at a construction project on Daryl Drive in Baton Rouge, where they were constructing a
new residential complex for low-income families. I seized that opportunity and gave my 110%
every single day. That job opportunity as an administrative assistant led me to become one of the
superintendents at the job site, where I worked until August 18, 2023. Even though I wish I could
see the project through the final stages, I still have to account for my actions and serve my
sentence as ordered by the Judge. However, just as I have done in the past, I want to take the
right steps in making this time productive, reconciling with society, and strengthening
relationships with my family.
