FINANCIAL CRIMES’ SUSPECTS CHARGED WITH BRIBERY

FINANCIAL CRIMES’ SUSPECTS CHARGED WITH BRIBERY
MANDY HAYDELL, ANTHONY VEGA, GARRET HOPWOOD

NAPOLEONVILLE – Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon reports the arrests of Mandy Haydell, 36, of 34318 Robbie Lee Drive, Denham Springs, La., Anthony Vega, 36, of 12946 Tannehill Drive, Walker, La. and Garret Hopwood, 26, of 22741 Brittney Renee. Zachary, La., on felony charges resulting from their prior arrests related to an illegal check writing scheme in the Pierre Part area.

Anthony Vega and Garret Hopwood have been incarcerated since their arrests on the prior charges after the suspects were charged with defrauding a Pierre Part merchant in a scheme that costs the business thousands of dollars.

During the investigation, detectives determined that Vega and his female acquaintance, Mandy Haydell, executed a plan that would cause Vega to be released from custody after Hopwood would accept responsibility in its entirety in exchange for a sum of cash that he would receive.

At some point, Garret Hopwood agreed to the terms of the proposal and signed a sworn affidavit knowing that its contents were false.

As a result of the investigation, the three suspects were all arrested and charged.

Anthony Vega was already in custody and was additionally charged on December 11, 2020 on charges of:

*Obstruction of Justice
*Public Bribery

Garret Hopwood, also previously in custody was charged with:

*Perjury (One Count)

His re-arrest also occurred on December 11, 2020.

Mandy Haydell was arrested on December 10, 2020 with the assistance of the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center on charges of:

*Obstruction of Justice
*Public Bribery

All three suspects remain incarcerated pending bond hearings.

For additional information concerning this News Release, contact Sheriff Leland Falcon or Public Information Officer, Lonny Cavalier at 985-369-7281.