Reserve man and founder of “It Takes Lives To Save Lives” jailed for fraud, drugs
Published 11:19 am Tuesday, February 5, 2019
- Jordy Robertson
NEW ORLEANS — A Reserve man accused of falsely collecting tens of thousands of dollars in the name of organ donation awareness and aid to help his son’s medical treatment is behind bars as part of a federal prosecution.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael North denied bail Monday in a New Orleans courthouse for 35-year-old Jordy Robertson.
Robertson achieved a level of fame and money using the coattails of his son, Jarrius “J.J.” Robertson, to raise money for organ-transplant-awareness charity “It Takes Lives To Save Lives,” federal officials say.
Drug Enforcement Agents raided Robertson’s Reserve home and LaPlace foundation office in October.
Robertson was arrested Thursday for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, wire fraud and witness retaliation.
He is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and being housed without bond in St. Charles Parish.
Debbie Webber, DEA spokeswoman for the New Orleans field division, said Robertson was the only person arrested last week; however, she would not go into detail about if other suspects were being sought in relation to Robertson’s charges.
“It is still an ongoing federal investigation,” Webber said.
Jordy Robertson has two children with Patricia Hoyal: J.J. Robertson, 16, and 15-year-old Tiyquan Hoyal.
Federal authorities have stressed J.J. and other family members are not accused or suspected of any wrongdoing.
The Advocate reported the Rev. Forell Bering Sr., pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Reserve, and Robertson’s fiancée Ashley Dewey spoke Monday on his behalf seeking a release from jail while charges were pending.
Hoyal told L’OBSERVATEUR her children are devastated by the news of their father’s arrest.
“It doesn’t surprise me that (Jordy) got arrested,” Hoyal said. “That is his lifestyle. That is what he does. It’s not shocking. My son Tiyquan tells me everything, and (Jordy) sells drugs in front of the kids. It’s nothing new.
“Tiyquan has told me on numerous occasions that he has sold drugs in front of them. I have contacted the police department, but nothing is done about it. But now it is, so thank god.”