A newly surfaced video from what appears to be a New Orleans jail fugitive has sparked an investigation.
The US Marshals Service is investigating the social media post by Antoine Massey, one of two inmates still at large after a group of 10 inmates broke out of Orleans Justice Center last month. The 32-year-old with a long rap sheet, including violent felonies, appealed to President Donald Trump and others in the video in which he declared he “didn’t break out” of jail.
“I’m one of the ones that was let out of Orleans Parish jail where they said I escaped, right?” said the man on the viral video, which was posted on Sunday but then deleted.
In the lengthy message, he pleaded his case and contended he was innocent, even showing what appeared to be court documents.
“They say that I broke out. I didn’t break out — I was let out,” he said.
“The reason why I left the jail is because these people were trying to give me a life sentence in both parishes for something that I did not do,” the man, whose face tattoos match those of Massey’s, said.
“All type of stuff going on and they covering it up … don’t care about nothing in the state of Louisiana. This is something that needs to go under a federal investigation,” he said.
“I’m asking, please, for help … I’m saying people that been through the system that know it’s corrupt. Lil Wayne, Donald Trump, please, I’m asking for help. You know what I’m saying?”
According to Nola.com:
Massey had been jailed in March on charges of motor vehicle theft and domestic abuse battery involving strangulation. He’s also wanted by St. Tammany Parish authorities on suspicion of kidnapping and rape, law enforcement officials said.
His long criminal history dates back to at least 2009 and includes violent felony convictions of armed robbery, aggravated flight from an officer and felon in possession of a firearm. He was also sentenced on charges of theft, simple criminal damage to property and twice on tampering with electronic monitoring equipment.
“If the individual depicted in the video is indeed Antoine Massey, we strongly urge him to come forward and turn himself in to the proper authorities,” Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said in a statement. “Cooperating with law enforcement is in his best interest and may help avoid additional charges.”
“It is important that justice is served appropriately and that due process is followed,” she added.
Derrick Groves, 27, who also escaped the jail, remains at large along with Massey while eight of the other escapees have been re-arrested.
