May 2026 Discipline

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These lawyers were the subject of Louisiana Supreme Court disciplinary orders or Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board recommendations published during the month of May 2026.

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Louisiana Supreme Court

  1. Gregory Joseph St. Angelo (No. 2026-B-00360). The court permanently disbarred the respondent. The respondent, who served as general counsel of First NBC Bank from approximately 2006 to 2016, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud; he and others disguised the respondent’s true financial condition, obtained loans for personal benefit, submitted false financial statements to the bank, and caused the bank to disburse approximately $9.6 million in fictitious tax credit investments, contributing to the bank’s failure in April 2017 with outstanding loan balances of approximately $46.7 million. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 8.4(b) and 8.4(c).
  2. Stephen Sterling, III (No. 2023-B-01094). The court granted the joint motion to extend the respondent’s probation for an additional twelve months. The respondent violated the Rules of Professional Conduct during his probationary period. In so doing, the respondent violated the Rules of Professional Conduct.
  3. Brian Allen Miller (No. 2026-B-00430). The court accepted the joint petition for consent discipline and suspended the respondent from the practice of law for three years, retroactive to February 1, 2024. The respondent pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 8.4(a) and 8.4(b).

    LADB Hearing Committees

    1. Angela Adele Decoteau (No. 25-DB-037). Hearing Committee #1 recommended that the respondent be suspended for one year, with all but ninety days deferred, followed by three years of probation. The respondent delegated all aspects of client estate planning matters to unqualified non-lawyers and an out-of-state drafting company, failed to supervise subordinate attorneys, failed to communicate with clients, charged an unreasonable fee, and failed to refund an unearned fee. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 1.1(a), 1.3, 1.4(a) and (b), 1.5(a) and (f)(5), 5.1(a), (b), and (c), and 8.4(a) and (c).
    2. Chris Richard (No. 24-DB-010). Hearing Committee #22 recommended that the respondent be suspended for one year and one day, with the suspension fully deferred. The respondent carelessly operated a party barge on False River, causing injury to minor children, and then left the scene without reporting the accident to law enforcement. In so doing, the respondent violated Rule 8.4(b).
    3. Ned Franklin Pierce Sonnier, Sr. (No. 25-DB-038). Hearing Committee #5 found that the respondent, who is currently disbarred, violated the Rules of Professional Conduct and recommended that any future petition for readmission be conditioned on a full accounting of funds received from clients, full restitution of unearned fees, and a finding that the respondent is guilty of additional violations warranting disbarment. While already under interim suspension and subsequently disbarred, the respondent continued to engage in the unauthorized practice of law, abandoned the legal matters of clients in two pending suits, failed to communicate with clients or notify them of his suspension and disbarment, failed to return unearned fees or client files, and failed to cooperate with the ODC’s investigation. In so doing, the respondent violated Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.15(f)(5), 1.16(c) and (d), 8.1(c), and 8.4(a) and (d).
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