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Louisiana authorities arrested a total of a dozen people accused of aiding the 10 men who broke out of a New Orleans jail earlier this month and threatened to prosecute anyone else helping the two who are still at large.
“If anyone else is helping out the remaining two escapees they will also be arrested and prosecuted. We will not tolerate it,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said on X Monday night.
State police announced Monday they arrested Lenton Vanburen Jr., 26, who was located in Baton Rouge, as well as Leo Tate, 31, and Jermaine Donald, 42, who were both found in Walker County, Texas, bringing the total arrests to eight out of the 10 men who escaped. Antoine T. Massey and Derrick Groves remain on the run.
via Associated Press
The 10 men were able to escape Orleans Justice Center by breaching a wall behind a toilet in their housing unit and taking advantage of “defective locks and doors,” according to a press release by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. The escapees left a message above the toilet which read “To [sic] Easy Lol.”
The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation arrested jail worker Sterling Williams, 33, on 10 counts of principal to simple escape and malfeasance in office after authorities say he shut the water off in the cell the night of the escape. Williams told authorities Massey had “threatened to shank him” if he disobeyed.
Trevon Williams, 23, was already being held in Orleans Justice Center when he was charged last week with 10 counts of principal to simple escape, However authorities did not specify what role he played in the escape.
After escaping the jail, some of the men allegedly received help from individuals who have since been charged.
Last week, state police announced that Cortnie Harris, 32, and Corvanntay Baptiste, 38, were charged with felony accessory after the fact. Police say Baptiste helped facilitate getting escapee Corey Boyd, 19, food while he was in hiding. Boyd was captured last week and is now in custody.
Harris had allegedly transported two unnamed escapees across different locations in New Orleans with the help of Casey Smith, 30, who was charged with accessory after the fact to simple escape according to local police.
Connie Weeden, 59, was charged with the same felony as the other three women for allegedly helping her grandson Donald after his escape by sending him cash through a phone app, according to NBC affiliate WDSU.
State police announced the arrest of six more alleged accomplices on Monday including Diamond White, 21, who is accused of assisting Massey. White was charged with principal to aggravated escape and obstruction of justice.
Lenika Vanburen, 28, Tyshanea Randolph, 27, Patricia Vanburen, 18, Angel McKay, 41, and Lenton Vanburen Sr., 48, were all charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly assisting Lenton Vanburen Jr.
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“Law enforcement personnel from multiple local, state, and federal agencies will continue to pursue every lead until the remaining fugitives are located,” state police wrote in Monday’s announcement. “Individuals who choose to assist, conceal, or harbor these fugitives are violating the law and will be arrested, regardless of the level of assistance given or where they are found.”
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