INDIVIDUAL LICENSEE ISSUES:

 Cecil Brown

Brief Historical Background (late 80's to early 2000's):

Unless one is relatively young or a relative newcomer to Louisiana, anyone should be familiar with the name Cecil Brown as a result of Mr. Brown's extensive role as Defendant in the public corruption trial of 4-term former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Washington Edwards.  That high-profile trial transpired from January 10, 2000 through May 9, 2000, and all but two Defendants were found guilty collectively of various charges, including:  Extortion, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, interstate travel and communication in aid of racketeering, false statements, illegal wiretapping, Racketeer-influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act violations, and conspiracy.  Additionally, on March 21, 2001, Mr. Brown was convicted of seven (7) additional counts in separate extortion schemes.  For his role in the Edwards corruption trial, Mr. Brown was sentenced to five (5) years and six (6) months in Federal prison and a $50,000 fine.

Auction Career Post October, 2006 Release from Federal Prison:

Mr. Brown provided testimony in a separate Federal trial regarding men who purportedly approached him in prison to purchase fertilizer.  The men allegedly planned to use the fertilizer in a plot to attack a federal judge in Chicago.   In exchange for his testimony against the men, Federal prosecutors agreed to reduce his prison sentence, and he was released from Federal prison in October of 2006 to a halfway house, and he obtained full release in late November of 2006.  Thereafter, he reapplied for his auction license (which was granted), and he began auctioning equipment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

July 16, 2012:

 
LALB Meeting:  07/16/12
Administrative Hearing on Cecil Brown.  Consignor Lance Chipmen alleged
equipment which had been held for 2-3 years (during multiple failed auction attempts to reach the reserve) was
sold for an amount less than what Mr. Chipmen, who resides in the state of Washington, would accept.  Chipmen
further alleged that storage fees were excessive and that no written contract existed to evidence his agreement with Brown.
48:15 - 50:42 of above video outlines LALB's findings in the matter.  Those findings are that
Brown was found guilty on five counts, was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, and was ordered to pay Chipmen $9,000 less commission
for his equipment.  Interestingly enough, Consumer Members, those members of the Board ostensibly serving
to protect the CONSUMER, Greg Bordelon and Clayton Brister vote AGAINST the finding!!