St. Martinville – Two out-of-state men were arrested recently after an investigation by the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office into a phishing scam.
Sheriff Becket Breaux said that on Aug. 27, 2025, detectives with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint after a local business was targeted through a phishing email, resulting in a loss of $575,323.12.
Following the investigation, detectives were able to identify the two suspects: Danny Cody, 63, of Cleveland, Texas, and John Karmelich, 66, of Westminster, California. Arrest warrants were issued for both suspects. Cody was arrested in Texas and extradited to St. Martin Parish. Karmelich turned himself in. Both were booked into the St. Martin Parish jail on the following charges:
• La. R.S. 14:67B(1) Theft $25,000+
• La. R.S. 14:70.8 Illegal Transmission of Monetary Funds The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance in this investigation.
Residents and business owners are encouraged to remain alert to phishing scams and to verify all financial requests before taking action. Anyone who believes they may have been targeted is urged to contact the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Danny Cody
John Karmelich
