By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Authorities in St. John are looking for a LaPlace man who is suspected in a scam that allowed him to steal 200 cases of fundraiser candy while allegedly posing as a representative of a LaPlace church.

Jason Dumas, 31, is wanted in connection with the October 2009 heist of more than $9,000 worth of World’s Finest Chocolate and the Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to find the sweet toothed thief, said Capt. Dane Clement, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office. He said Dumas’ last known address is a home in the 600 block of Medford Drive in LaPlace.

According to a release from the Sheriff’s Office, Dumas allegedly ordered 200 cases of the chocolate from the company while posing as a representative of Celebration Church.

The candy was delivered to the church, located at 3400 Highway 51, on October 27, 2009 and two men proceeded to load the candy into two vehicles in the church parking lot.

Then, in February, church officials reported the incident to the Sheriff’s Office after receiving a bill of $9,020 for the chocolate. Clement said when the church inquired about the bill, the company said the candy was ordered by someone claiming to be one of the church’s deacons. “The church contacted the distributor, who handed over the names of the people that ordered the candy,” Clement said. “The suspect we are looking for was listed as one of the names.”

Anyone with information or knowing the whereabouts of Dumas should call Detective Jerry Fountain at 985-359-8769.