La. Insurance Broker Hit With Federal Tax Evasion Charges

An insurance broker indicted for his alleged role in a kickback scheme involving the Orleans Parish School Board has been hit with new charges of federal tax evasion.

Glenn Davis, 53, operator of Century Insurance Agency, underreported his income and filed false corporate income tax returns for the years 2000-2002, according to an indictment issued June 29.

Davis failed to pay at least $180,000 in taxes, the indictment alleged.

Davis is one of three insurance brokers charged two years ago with federal extortion violations for allegedly paying kickbacks to school board risk manager Carl Coleman over a period of six years in order to keep a lucrative health-insurance contract.

That indictment alleged that Davis, along with fellow brokers Chuck Swanson and Lillian Smith Haydel – former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial’s aunt – each paid Coleman $1,000 a month over that time.

Haydel and Coleman have pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme. Swanson has pleaded not guilty.

Davis has maintained his innocence throughout.

“Our position is still the same,” defense attorney John DiGiulio said. “We’re entering a not guilty plea and going to trial.”

Information from: The Times-Picayune, www.timespicayune.com.