Former Louisiana Alcohol Regulator Makes First Court Appearance

The former Commission of Alcohol and Tobacco in Louisiana, Murphy Painter, was in court this week.  It was his first court appearance on federal charges that he used his position to illegally look into several people who were not under any criminal investigation.  Painter is alleged to have used the national crime computer to get the information.

The court decided that Painter would be allowed to be free without posting bail, but he was made to turn over his passport and his gun collection.  He will have to be in court again next week.  Painter was indicted May 23 on charges of computer fraud, making false statements and identity theft.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Walter Green said Painter allegedly made false statements to the FBI to gain personal information on several people from the computers of the National Crime Information Center.