IBERVILLE PARISH — An assistant principal at a school in Baton Rouge is the second arrest in connection to an alleged illegal sports gambling scheme. An extensive investigation by Louisiana State Police uncovered a large-scale illegal sports gambling operation with troopers identifying over 30,000 illegal transactions linked to the scheme between Jan. 2021 and Nov. 2023.
April Kenyetta Scott was arrested on Feb. 2, 2026. Her arrest comes over a year after her brother Broderick Scott was arrested in connection to the same alleged scheme. April Scott and is accused of assisting with managing financial transactions, registering a business entity, and helping move money connected to the illegal gambling operation, per State Police. She’s charged with gambling and introduction of contraband, both felonies. Scott is an assistant principal at McKinley Middle Magnet School in Baton Rouge.
“This gambling in prison deal is huge. It’s illegal and we will follow the evidence. I believe there are more arrests to come. I have been in talks with other law enforcement agencies to conduct investigations in their own jails. Telephones are being used to, which brings the possibility of bringing the federal folks in, and then we plan to use everything in our disposable to eradicate this type of activity. Jail is not a place for you to go to make half a million dollars profiting and gambling. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There will be more to come,” 18th JDC District Attorney Tony Clayton told UWK.
EBR School’s Superintendent Lamont Cole did issue a release:
The East Baton Rouge Parish School System is aware of an arrest involving an assistant principal that occurred yesterday evening.
As soon as district leadership was made aware of the situation, the employee was placed on administrative leave, effective immediately. Because this is an ongoing legal matter and a personnel issue, the district is unable to share additional details at this time.
However, we want to assure families and the community that student safety remains our top priority.
McKinley Middle Academic Magnet School will continue normal operations, and additional administrative support has been put in place to ensure continuity and stability for students and staff.
We appreciate the understanding and trust of our families as this matter proceeds through the appropriate legal process.
Past arrest connected to gambling operation
On Dec. 18, 2024, Department of Corrections inmate, 48-year-old Broderick Scott of Addis, was arrested and accused of operating the large-scale sports gambling operation from within the walls of the Hunt Correctional Center. State Police troopers say investigators determined the operation involved thousands of peer-to-peer digital transactions totaling approximately $2.7 million, with an estimated profit of $500,000 while the individual was in custody.
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The initial investigation began in May 2023 when the Louisiana State Police Troopers Gaming Enforcement Division received a complaint regarding contraband being smuggled into multiple Louisiana Department of Corrections (DOC) facilities, including at Hunt.
After recieving that complaint, LSP with help from the FBI and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, launched an investigation in which they say they uncovered a large-scale gambling ring.
Investigators claim Scott operated the scheme using contraband smuggled into the facility.
Scott is facing multiple charges including gambling and unlawful establisment of accounts on internet-based social networking websites by inmates.
LSP used the arrest as an opportunity to remind people with family members or friends inside of DOC facilities that is it illegal to use third-party vendors such as Cash App to send money to inmates.
“There is no legitimate reason for an incarcerated individual to request that their family and friends place money on an app for purchases made while they are incarcerated. Often times, friends and family members are convinced to send money through these methods while being led to believe that this money is going to be used for the purchase of commissary items. In actuality, the transfers of money are used to support illegal activity, for instance to purchase drugs and/or contraband items or have them smuggled into prison,” a press release states.
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