On March 14, 2022, Deputies with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the 2500 Blk. of St. Landry Hwy. in reference to a fraud investigation.  During the investigation, detectives learned that the suspect (Ray Cooper) out of Port Allen was hired by the victim to poor gravel on the driveway of his residence.  Once the job was completed, the victim wrote two checks to the suspect each for $314.00.  Once the checks were given to the suspect, he altered the checks by adding a 1 in front of the $314.00 in order to change the amount of the checks to $1,314.00 without the victim's knowledge or permission.  Once the investigation was complete, detectives learned that the suspect was in the custody of the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office Jail for several unrelated charges.  The suspect was later extradited to Evangeline Parish where he was booked in the Parish Jail for Monetary Instrument Abuse and Theft by Fraud.  His bond was set at $20,000.00.  Additional charges of fraud are pending in other parishes.          

Ray Cooper

W/M DOB 06/25/1980

3734 S. River Rd. Port Allen, La.

As always, Sheriff Charles R. Guillory and the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office is always seeking information on criminal activity and urges the Public to contact their Investigation Department via phone at 337-363-2161 or through the agency's website at www.evangelineparishsheriff.org.  Any person reporting information will remain anonymous.