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Waiver request submitted by Jason Gerald Ard, Sheriff / Livingston Parish, regarding a $2500 late fee assessed for filing his amended 2022 Tier 2 annual pfd 512 days late. |
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Information submitted by Sheriff Ard
Alesia M. Ardoin is submitting a waiver on behalf of Jason Ard. On 10/24/2023, BOE staff inquired about certain legal entities previously reported on earlier disclosures. There was no income from those entities and no amendment to the disclosure. On 2/4/2025, counsel for Mr. Ard received a call from the director of investigations requesting that the report be amended to show that there was no income to disclose. The provisions of the Ethics Code do not require disclosure of the requested information. Ms. Ardoin states they responded within the statutory safe harbor provision of notice of the deficiency. They do not understand why this matter continued after the 10/24/2023 correspondence addressing the staff's concerns. Please rescind the assessed late fee.
Staff Timeline
May 8, 2023: Jason Ard filed his original 2022 PFD.
July 20, 2023: Staff
reviewed it and noticed that it was missing information
regarding businesses his owned on his 2021 PFD.
August
25, 2023: staff issued Sheriff Ard a NOD requesting he amend his PFD to
disclose his interest in Blue Line Enterprises 1, LLC, Blue Line
Enterprises 2, LLC, and Global Processing Partners, LLC and remove his
association with the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement &
Administration of Criminal Justice as staff received notice from the
Governor's office on August 18, 2021 that he resigned his ex-officio
commission in 2021.
August 30, 2023: The NOD-Amend was received by Sheriff Ard.
September 11, 2023: A response to the NOD-Amend was due.
September 5, 2023: Alesia Ardoin submitted a letter stating
that Sheriff Ard no longer had an interest in any of the companies and
he did not receive any income from them in 2022. Ms. Ardoin also stated
that he is still a member of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement
& Administration of Criminal Justice.
September 15, 2023, staff left two (2) voicemails with Ms.
Ardoin advising that the 2022 PFD still needed to be amended. Staff
also sent a detailed email to Ms. Ardoin.
September 22, 2023: Ms.
Ardoin responded stating no income for Code 4 for 2022 and that the
other companies were not sold but dissolved.
September 22, 2023:
staff requested an official letter from Ms. Ardoin.
October 9, 2023: staff emailed Ms. Ardoin requesting the letter. Ms. Ardoin responded thanking staff for the reminder.
On October 19, 2023, Ms. Ardoin emailed an unsigned letter.
On October 24, 2023, Ms. Ardoin emailed a signed letter.
After October 24, 2023, it came to undersigned counsel's attention that the companies had
not been dissolved according to the Secretary of State's website. According to the Secretary of State's website, Blue Line Enterprises 1,
LLC does not exist. Blue Line Enterprises 2, LLC still exists but
appears to be under new ownership. Global Processing Partners, LLC
appears to have changed its name to Interactive Software Solutions, LLC
and be under new ownership. Therefore, it appears at least two
companies were not dissolved as advised by Sheriff. Ard's attorney.
March 2024: a second notice was issued to Sheriff Ard regarding the amendment.
February 2, 2025: Sheriff Ard filed the amendment.
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TYPE OF REPORT: 2022 Tier 2 Annual Report - Amendment
ORIGINAL FILING DATE: May 8, 2023
DATE NOD RECEIVED: 8/30/2023 (personally signed)
DATE REPORT FILED: 2/4/2025
DAYS LATE FROM NOD: 512 days
ASSESSED LATE FEE: $2500
PRIOR/OUTSTANDING PFD LATE FEES: None
PRIOR/OUTSTANDING CF LATE FEES: Yes - 2023 $60 (Paid)
OUTSTANDING DISCLOSURE REPORTS: None
PRIOR EXPERIENCE: has filed 19 reports or amendments
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La. R.S. 42:1124.2
requires each person holding a public office who represents a voting district having a population of 5,000 or more persons to file an annual personal financial disclosure statement on or before May 15th of each year during which the person holds office and the year following termination of the holding of such office.
La. R.S. 42:1124.4 provides that upon discovery of the failure to file, failure to timely file, omission of information or inaccurate information, the Board shall notify the filer by sending him a notice of delinquency by certified mail. The notice of delinquency shall inform the person that the financial statement must be filed, or that the information must be disclosed or accurately disclosed, or that a written answer contesting the allegation of such failure, omission, or inaccuracy must be filed no later than seven (7) business days after receipt of the notice of delinquency.
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| Assigned Attorney: |
Tracy Barker |
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