Sibley was a lawyer in the old Castano Group, the Louisiana based trial lawyer syndicate led by the late Wendell Gauthier that handled some of the tobacco litigation back in the 1990s. Besides Gauthier, Calvin “Calhoun” Fayard was involved as was Fayard’s political operative/lawyer associate Hugh Sibley. Trout Point Lodge owner Danny Abel was also a part of that group, trying his best to inflict his boy Vaughn Perret on the rest. After Gauthier died, time has not been kind to many of the old Castano Group members as I illustrate today with Sibley:
So why do I bring up news Slabbed covered in 2009? Sweet serendipity that’s why. Sources familiar with the Sibley’s law practice indicate to Slabbed that while Sibley was Fayard’s political go to guy, Nipun “Nick” Desai was Sibley’s right hand man. Desai, a one time college exchange student from East India that graduated from LSU in 1996, reportedly parlayed the association with Sibley into a real estate empire that stretches across Louisiana and includes the now fabled Super 8 Motel on Clearview Parkway.
This is important because Desai is a bit of a mystery man. You see folks multiple sources have indicated to Slabbed that Desai was arrested on a cocaine distribution charge somewhere between 2008 and 2010 yet we’ve been unable to uncover anything on the arrest or the case itself as it does not show in the Federal Court Database PACER nor is there a Louisiana state record that we can find. Desai is a big mystery but we solved some of it here.
I’ve put out a few feelers on the Desai cocaine arrest but I’d welcome my readers to do a bit of their own sleuthing. We’re going someplace folks, a place that caused a print journalist to make certain the late Don Bolles made it on my radar screen earlier this year. Let’s roll.
http://www.super8.com/hotels/louisiana/metairie/search-results
16 Hotels
Address 2421 CLEARVIEW PKWY HEX $0.00 Ward/Parcel 0820024412
Legal Description LOTS 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 & 39 BLK 11 SEC B LESS AND EXCEPT THAT PART SOLD TO THE STATE OF LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS CLEARVIEW ESTATES 1059/524 Notice # 0820024412 Assessment $443,900
MILLION OAKS, INC. Business Corporation METAIRIE Active
Previous Names
Business: MILLION OAKS, INC.
Charter Number: 25200290D
Registration Date: 10/3/1960
Domicile Address
4621 FOLSE DR.
METAIRIE, LA 70006
Mailing Address
4621 FOLSE DR.
METAIRIE, LA 70006
Status
Status: Active
Annual Report Status: Not In Good Standing for failure to file Annual Report
File Date: 10/3/1960
Last Report Filed: 9/11/2011
Type: Business Corporation
Registered Agent(s)
Agent: ANN M. KINBERGER
Address 1: 4621 FOLSE DRIVE
City, State, Zip: METAIRIE, LA 70006
Appointment Date: 9/19/1996
Officer(s) Additional Officers: No
Officer: JAMES M. KINBERGER, III
Title: President
Address 1: 5536 JANICE AVE.
City, State, Zip: KENNER, LA 70065
Officer: MARY K. ROME
Title: Secretary
Address 1: 5409 REBECCA BLVD.
City, State, Zip: KENNER, LA 70065
Officer: ANN M. KINBERGER
Title: Vice-President, Treasurer
Address 1: 4621 FOLSE DRIVE
City, State, Zip: METAIRIE, LA 70006
Mergers (1)
Filed Date Effective Date: Type Charter# Charter Name Role
6/11/1998 6/11/1998 MERGE 25200290D MILLION OAKS, INC. SURVIVOR
24206910D PROGRESSIVE BROKERAGE COMPANY INC. NON-SURVIVOR
Amendments on File (1)
Description Date
Merger 6/11/1998
Owner of Record* MILLION OAKS INC Tax Due $0.00 Tax Year 2011
*Owner’s records may take several months to be updated.
Currious same name but may not be associated to Clearview but see agents address
MILLION OAKS CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC. Non-Profit Corporation KENNER Active
Previous Names
Business: MILLION OAKS CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC.
Charter Number: 34576423N
Registration Date: 10/30/1997
Domicile Address
901 JOE YENNI BLVD.
BOX 100
KENNER, LA 70065
Mailing Address
901 JOE YENNI BLVD.
BOX 100
KENNER, LA 70065
Status
Status: Active
Annual Report Status: In Good Standing
File Date: 10/30/1997
Last Report Filed: 10/10/2011
Type: Non-Profit Corporation
Registered Agent(s)
Agent: MICHAEL SANCHEZ
Address 1: 901 JOE YENNI BLVD
Address 2: A-13
City, State, Zip: KENNER, LA 70065
Appointment Date: 3/29/2010
Officer(s) Additional Officers: No
Officer: EMILE LARSON
Title: Vice-President
Address 1: 14 ZION DRIVE
City, State, Zip: KENNER, LA 70065
Officer: MICHAEL SANCHEZ
Title: President
Address 1: 901 JOE YENNI BLVD
Address 2: A-13
City, State, Zip: KENNER, LA 70065
Officer: GERARD SPINA
Title: Secretary/Treasurer
Address 1: 901 JOE YENNI BLVD
Address 2: A-13
City, State, Zip: KENNER, LA 70065
Amendments on File (2)
Description Date
Revoked 2/19/2009
Reinstatement 3/29/2010
Address 2421 CLEARVIEW PKWY HEX $0.00 Ward/Parcel 0820024412A
Legal Description LOTS 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 BLK 11 SEC B CLEARVIEW ESTATES Notice # 0820024412A Assessment $75,080
Owner of Record* MILLION OAKS INC Tax Due $0.00 Tax Year 2011
Address 2421 CLEARVIEW PKWY Ward 82 Parcel 0820024412A
Legal Description LOTS 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 BLK 11 SEC B CLEARVIEW ESTATES
Property Tax Notices and Payments Total Due for Selected Notices
Tax Year Tax Notice # Assessment Original Tax Due Paid Amount** Date Paid Balance Due**
2011 0820024412A 75,080 $7,905.17 $7,905.17 12/02/2011 0.00
2010 108607 84,340 $8,661.71 $8,661.71 12/10/2010 0.00
2009 6234021842 84,340 $8,661.71 $8,661.71 12/16/2009 0.00
**Paid Amount and Balance Due includes Penalties, Interest, and other charges, if any.
It may take up to 3 days for your payment to be reflected here. DO NOT REPAY
*Owner’s records may take several months to be updated.
Address 2421 CLEARVIEW PKWY HEX $0.00 Ward/Parcel 3821969300
Legal Description FURNITURE & FIXTURES 34490 MACHINERY & EQUIP. 17410 MISC. PROPERTY 995 Notice # 3821969300 Assessment $52,895
Owner of Record* DESAI HOLDING LLC Tax Due $0.00 Tax Year 2011
*Owner’s records may take several months to be updated.
Address 2421 CLEARVIEW PKWY Ward 82 Parcel 3821969300
Legal Description FURNITURE & FIXTURES 34490 MACHINERY & EQUIP. 17410 MISC. PROPERTY 995
Property Tax Notices and Payments Total Due for Selected Notices
Tax Year Tax Notice # Assessment Original Tax Due Paid Amount** Date Paid Balance Due**
2011 3821969300 52,895 $5,569.34 $5,736.42 03/07/2012 0.00
2010 208642 52,895 $5,432.34 $5,713.96 06/01/2011 0.00
2009 208670 37,783 $3,880.29 $4,143.22 06/16/2010 0.00
2008 208670 26,988 $2,743.35 $2,743.35 01/15/2009 0.00
2007 208780 19,277 $2,171.36 $2,171.36 12/26/2007 0.00
2006 208878 13,769 $1,458.00 $1,458.00 11/30/2006 0.00
**Paid Amount and Balance Due includes Penalties, Interest, and other charges, if any.
It may take up to 3 days for your payment to be reflected here. DO NOT REPAY
DESAI HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company METAIRIE Active
Previous Names
Business: DESAI HOLDINGS, LLC
Charter Number: 35607639K
Registration Date: 12/12/2003
Domicile Address
2421 CLEARVIEW PKWY.
METAIRIE, LA 70001-1239
Mailing Address
C/O NIPUN DESAI
2421 CLEARVIEW PKWY.
METAIRIE, LA 70001-1239
Status
Status: Active
Annual Report Status: In Good Standing
File Date: 12/12/2003
Last Report Filed: 12/14/2011
Type: Limited Liability Company
Registered Agent(s)
Agent: NIPUN DESAI
Address 1: 2421 CLEARVIEW PKWY.
City, State, Zip: METAIRIE, LA 70001-1239
Appointment Date: 12/12/2003
Officer(s) Additional Officers: No
Officer: NIPUN DESAI
Title: Member
Address 1: 2421 CLEARVIEW PKWY.
City, State, Zip: METAIRIE, LA 70001-1239
Amendments on File
No Amendments on file
So he graduates from LSU in 1996 and 8 years later has enough money to buy the Super 8 located on one of the most prime pieces of commercial real estate in Jefferson Parish. I just spoke with Mr NAAS to jog my memory on some things. Maybe he’ll be able to stop in later and lend his insights.
One memory: Nick stopped by the Fayard law office in Denham Springs one afternoon somewhere in the 2001-2003 time frame. Everyone was gone for the day except me. He asked if he could use our phone and fax machine so he could place bids on motels or hotels somewhere in Texas or New Mexico. Significant money was involved. He was driving a new white Mercedes 300 series.
He’d always told me that he and Sibley had some sort of online travel service with the focus of its operations in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He also talked about a temp service in San Jose, California where he had some computer programmers that he would hire out to various clients for projects. He would do programming and network systems for class action claims offices, and even our office computer system.
Fast forward to 2008 and the Sibley money laundering story. About a month after Sibley’s name publicly surfaced in connection with the cocaine money laundering activities, I was told by 2 sources that Nick had been arrested on cocaine charges before the Sibley stuff hit the fan. I have searched state and federal court records, but have never been able to independently verify that information. However, the sources of that information are beyond reproach.
Nick and Sibley had, and may still have, interests in some LLCs in Louisiana. One that has always fascinated me is Train Car, LLC. There are some comprehensive posts on Slabbed about that, and I don’t want to repeat old stuff.
Now that the arrest report has been found and the arrest date established as July 23, 2008, it is apparent my 2 sources had it right after all. 3 months after Hugh Sibley was indicted under seal, Nick was arrested.
I have to wonder if any of Nick’s business was caught on all those taped conversations the Feds had involving Hugh? If they were taping during the aftermath of Nick’s arrest, they may have heard some strategy sessions on how his case was going to be handled.
Doug not sure you looked at above but there are three parcel numbers for one municaple address of the Super 8 , 2 dif LLC’s , and what I find interesting is like the Beach House the legal discription is for FURNITURE & FIXTURES 34490 MACHINERY & EQUIP. 17410 MISC. PROPERTY 995 Notice with a very low assessment in the JPSO site that does not match the assessors website . Does anyone know why this would be ?
We’re on it Tom. Slabbed has sent out discreet inquiries through multiple channels and those inquiries have begun to bear fruit. As Slabbed’s investigation progresses I’ll roll out some of the salient details. All I can tell you for certain is this is way bigger than just sweatheart property tax assessments.
That is good to know. I was worried when nobody responded to my question about that on a post last month. I haven’t been able to get anywhere within my channels, yet.
Stand by for an email. I have a name you need to know. Thx.
NAAS: I was wondering what ever happened to Sibley after his 2009 arrest in Houston for money laundering. I read from an earlier blog he turned informant. But does that indictment not affect his license to practice law in La .and does he not have to admit that he was indicted for a serious federal crime on his yearly application for renewing his license.
Paging Mr.Plattsmeir, Mr.Platypus* could you please comment and lay some BS eggs on us here.
And Platypus* how about telling us when are you going to restore the law license of Ashton O’Dwyer who has never been indicted for money laundering as I view your funny scales of justice to be grossly fu*king out of balance.
Platypus*- Egg laying aquatic mammal of Tasmania having a snout resembling a duck’s bill.
.
Sibley gave up his license right after the guilty plea.
Now, the question is whether or not he is doing any work for a law firm or attorney. I’m not an attorney, but I believe it is improper for a lawyer or law firm to employ a disbarred attorney.
Look at his wife–duh. Canadian.
Sibley is re-married?
It looks like Sibley passed away in January 2015. Does anyone know the whereabouts of Nick? I am an old friend from the past when all of this was going on. Kind of curious if there is anything new.