St. Bernard DA faces federal lawsuit over alleged use of office resources against citizen

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - St. Bernard Parish District Attorney Perry Nicosia faces a federal lawsuit that includes allegations he used office resources to defame and surveil a private citizen.

Through his attorney, Nicosia released statements denying the allegations.

Louisiana resident George Imbraguglio Jr. filed the suit and alleged Nicosia’s actions harmed him personally and professionally.

Imbraguglio alleges Nicosia had an affair with his now-former wife.

In a statement, Nicosia said he did not have contact with the woman until after she filed for divorce from Imbraguglio in 2025.

Imbraguglio alleges he sent a message to the woman through a court-mandated messaging app in October 2025, which read in part: “You should probably keep (your child) away from Perry. The information I have is truly disturbing.”

Kearny Loughlin is Imbraguglio’s attorney. He declined to elaborate on the alleged “information.”

The lawsuit alleges that, less than an hour later, Nicosia sent an email from his government email address with the subject line “URGENT - Professional Misconduct of George Inbraguglio (sic) Jr.”

Fox 8 obtained the email through a public records request. It was addressed to attorneys at Imbraguglio’s law firm.

It reads in part: “This statement is highly offensive and claims information that I did something inappropriate, which is completely and utterly false and defamatory. I expect an immediate retraction and apology.”

Scott Sternberg, a New Orleans-based Constitutional law attorney, told Fox 8, “The fact that he sent it from his DA e-mail implies to the recipient that, ‘It’s my DA communication. I’m an elected individual, and I think that this needs to be addressed.’”

The lawsuit claims Nicosia’s email exacerbated the ongoing divorce proceedings and played a role in Imbraguglio not being offered a position at a new firm.

Loughlin said the case has him thinking about parish residents.

“I think they would expect officials to stay out of private disputes, and to stay out of private disputes in an official way,” he said.

Nicosia did not make himself available for an interview. He released statements through his attorney Craig Watson.

Related to the email, a statement reads in part: “The accusations against DA Nicosia do more than target an individual — they malign the integrity of the District Attorney’s office and undermine its commitment to protect victims. Seeking an apology and retraction from a lawyer, who is an officer of the court, was warranted to protect the credibility of an office that works tirelessly to advocate for victims of crime.”

Imbraguglio also alleges Nicosia and his ex-wife sent a DA’s office investigator to surveil Imbraguglio at a bar.

Loughlin said he has video of the man surveilling his client.

“They have no prior relationship. There’s no other reason for him to be there taking photographs,” he said.

Nicosia’s statement addressing that allegation reads in part: “Facts will show that (Imbraguglio’s former wife) was notified by a community resident and friend that Mr. Imbraguglio Jr. was parked at a bar prior to when he was scheduled to pick up their 5-year-old child at school.

“Seeking confirmation, a longtime friend of Mr. Nicosia agreed to enter a place of public accommodation and confirm whether Mr. Imbraguglio Jr. was drinking. As confirmed by payroll records, the individual, who is a part-time process server, was not working that week and no money was paid to him for the few minutes he was at the bar.

“Further, the District Attorney’s office does not perform surveillance activities, which is in the province of the Sheriff’s Office.”

Loughlin said Imbraguglio didn’t drive the child.

Nicosia has moved to dismiss the case.

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