LIVINGSTON — The Livingston Parish District Attorney’s Office has launched a criminal investigation into Council Member Erin Sandefur after she admitted to sharing government checks that subsequently appeared in a campaign mailer for DA candidate Sherman Mack, The Advocate reported.

The mailer contained images of actual parish checks with unredacted bank account and routing numbers. The breach compromised the parish government’s financial account, forcing administrators to shut it down immediately and open a new one.

The full transition to the new bank account is expected to take several weeks as administrators work to contact multiple business entities, vendors and partners to update payment details.

According to 21st Judicial District Attorney Scott Perrilloux, the criminal probe will focus on whether Sandefur committed malfeasance in office. Investigators are assessing whether the council member failed to perform a lawful duty required of her as a public official or carried out official duties unlawfully.