A federal jury on Friday found five New Orleans police officers guilty in the shooting deaths of two civilians in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and a subsequent cover-up, Reuters reported. Four officers faced up to 25 counts each for their role in the Sept. 4, 2005, shootings in which two people were killed and four were seriously injured. A fifth officer was convicted of helping the others cover the incident up. All the officers potentially face life in prison. "Today's verdict sends a powerful, a powerful unmistakable message," said U.S. Attorney Jim Letten, speaking to reporters outside the New Orleans courthouse. The jury's decision means the deaths of Ronald Madison and James Brissette were the result of police willfully violating their civil rights, but that police did not arrive at the scene with the intent to murder the victims. In the death of Brissette and shooting of four others, officers Kenneth Bowen, Robert Faulcon, Robert Gisevius and Anthony Villavaso were found guilty of depriving citizens of their rights, and using firearms in the deprivation of those rights. In addition, Faulcon, the only defendant who testified at trial, was found guilty of violating civil rights and use of a firearm in the killing of Madison. They were also convicted of various charges connected with the cover-up, including conspiracy to obstruct justice and violate civil rights, and false prosecution. The fifth officer, retired homicide detective Arthur "Archie" Kaufman, was convicted on 10 counts related to the cover-up, including conspiracy, obstruction of justice, fabricating witnesses, falsifying victim statements, misleading federal investigators, and falsifying evidence.
