Louisiana School Superintendent LaMont Cole Indicted on Bribery, Money Laundering Charges

East Baton Rouge Parish School System Superintendent LaMont Cole, 52, was indicted by a special grand jury on two counts of conspiracy to commit public bribery, two counts of money laundering (involving $100,000‑$200,000), and one count of malfeasance in office. The indictment alleges the conduct occurred between Aug. 10 2022 and Dec. 31 2024 while Cole served as mayor pro tempore on the East Baton Rouge Metro Council.

Arrest warrants were also issued for contractors Terral “TJ” Jackson and his wife Erica Jackson, who face the same bribery conspiracy counts and additional money‑laundering charges. The case is part of Attorney General Liz Murrill’s broader probe into alleged corruption within Baton Rouge city‑parish government, which has previously implicated officials such as councilman Cleve Dunn Jr. and former mayoral aide Courtney Scott. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board released a statement affirming its support for due process and the presumption of innocence for Cole.