Indicted building inspector Randy Farrell sues over lost licenses in Orleans, Jefferson

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - A former New Orleans building inspector awaiting a federal trial on fraud charges has sued the permit departments of the City of New Orleans and Jefferson Parish, along with their respective department heads, alleging they have unfairly blocked his company from work since his indictment without due process.

Randy Farrell filed the civil complaint Monday (Oct. 27) in New Orleans’ federal court, where he is scheduled to stand trial next May 18.

Farrell was charged in September 2024, in a 25-count indictment, alleging a wide-ranging permits scheme involving wire fraud, conspiracy and the potential bribery of city officials, including providing gifts to Mayor LaToya Cantrell intended to induce favorable influence.

Cantrell, facing a separate federal indictment for fraud and lying to a grand jury, has not been charged with accepting bribes in connection to Farrell’s case.

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Federal prosecutors allege that Farrell worked closely with an associate identified as “Businessman 1,” whom sources have identified as Fouad Zeton, a political donor with close ties to Cantrell. Prosecutors have alleged that Farrell, through Zeton, provided “Public Official 1″ gifts such as Saints tickets, an iPhone and a steak dinner in exchange for favorable decisions.

The indictment claims the gifts helped influence decisions in Farrell’s favor, including the removal of former New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits deputy director Jennifer Cecil, who had reported Farrell’s activities to the city’s Inspector General.

Farrell claims in his new lawsuit that New Orleans permits department head Tammie Jackson and Jefferson Parish counterpart Danny Ferrara, along with their respective departments, have violated his constitutional rights by revoking his inspector registration and licenses and those of his third-party inspection company IECI & Associates because of his unresolved federal charges.

The lawsuit claims IECI has been “significantly impacted,” losing 16 of its inspectors and “millions of dollars” despite Farrell not having been proven guilty of criminal charges.

“Defendants’ conduct was arbitrary and oppressive, lacking any rational relationship to a legitimate governmental purpose and constituting an abuse of official power that shocks the conscience,” the lawsuit claims.

Farrell seeks reinstatement of his licenses and damages for “economic loss, emotional distress, reputational harm and other consequential injuries.”

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